Women’s Cycling Outfit, c. 1895–1900

This ensemble reflects women’s sporting and leisure fashion of the late 19th century, characterised by tailored separates designed to accommodate increased mobility. Cycling outfits of this type combined structured jackets with exaggerated leg-of-mutton sleeves and long skirts or divided skirts, balancing contemporary fashion with practical considerations.

By the mid-to-late 1890s, cycling had become an increasingly popular pastime among women, influencing dress reform while remaining within acceptable boundaries of respectability. Jackets were closely fitted at the waist, often worn over blouses with high collars or decorative neckwear, while hats and sturdy footwear completed the ensemble. Fabrics such as wool or tweed were commonly used for durability and warmth.

This style is consistent with fashion imagery from approximately 1895–1900, a period in which women’s cycling attire became more standardised and visually associated with the broader tailored aesthetic of the late Victorian era.

Credits & Details

• Creator: Vintage Simstress
• Original creator site: https://vintagesimstress.tumblr.com
• Era: Victorian
• Decade: 1890s