Have you ever wondered how Men Crossdressed in the 1700s & 1800s ?

[Robbiegirl]

I can't see how the same Percentage of men Crossdressed 100s of years ago unless they had wives who kept their secret

Think about it, Women were home the whole time and how much effort it must have taken for a guy to get into all those petticoats and wonderful gowns. There is no way they could have done it alone. Lots of us would love to have worn a Southern Belle dress but wouldn't we need lots of help ?

On the other hand in the Wild West days where women had to sew their own dresses I can only imagine how many cowboys became dressforms for their wives and experienced the joys of petticoats, dresses and Bonnets !

Do you ever think about this or know of research done ?

[Tracy Irving]

291694

Louis XIV

[MarinaTwelve200]

Not really, but I did discover why the men wore makeup in the1700's French court and high society----Watch the movie "Barry Lindon". It's obvious the lighting even in the ball rooms was quite poor by our standards. Makeup was worn so people could SEE each other's faces and facial expressions in the dim light.

[Joyce Swindell]

I can't tell you where I read it but I think I was googling crenoline history and stumbled onto the history of men used to wear high heels and silk garments as a sign of wealth.

[Cherylgyno]

I believe that back in the 14-1700's men wore tights. Men wore Lacy shirts. Men wore heels.
Men were the ones that had pierced ears hundreds of years before women ever did.

[Nikkilovesdresses]

Men who could afford it always had gentlemen's clubs, bastions of fiercely guarded privacy. There were always hedonistic nightclubs, at least in cities. The very rich also tend to care less what others think of them, certainly in terms of debauchery.

I think crossdressing has always occurred. However in former times religion was far more widespread, so it was driven much farther underground than today. I'm sure there were a lot of very deeply unhappy victims of repression. We are very privileged to live in an era when this forum is permitted to exist in the open.

[mbmeen12]

291727It would be as simple of exchanging clothes

[VickieBonne]

I'm reading Re-dressing, America's Frontier Past. By Peter Boag. It discusses exactly what your asking. Mostly female to male but there are examples of M2f.

[Beverley Sims]

I have always accepted that dressing occurred but I have never looked into it.

Now I will, you have piqued my interest. :-)

[Stephanie47]

If it an acceptable for a man to wear what we now consider to be frilly clothes and makeup it would not cross dressing. There is one noted example of an English aristocrat, Edward Hyde (Lord Cornbury) who was the governor of New York & New Jersey 1701-1708 who was a known to wear women's clothing. There is a portrait of him in women's finery hanging in a gallery. If you 'google' the name there are many articles about him.

[docrobbysherry]

I tend to not look backward at things that concern me. Enjoy looking at what MITE HAPPEN in the future!:daydreaming:

Like bearded men in dresses walking around town at mid day in 100 years!?:D

[Cynthia T]

In a World War I history book I own, there is a picture of four "doughgirls" in skirts, stockings and flower-decorated helmets.

[DIANEF]

Did a quick google search and found many images. What surprised me slightly was that while they wore full Victorian finery few of the subjects made any attempt to feminise their hair and face, indeed several had full on beards and-or moustaches. (this is not meant to turn in to a MIAD debate by the way)

292131

[Robertacd]

Watch the movie Elizabeth...

[Abbyru1]

Recorded cases in the civil war here in the United states of "women" spies on both sides. Check out Sue Monday for example.

[Glenda2]

There’s actually a CD group in Vancouver called the Cornbury Society. Their website is www.cornbury.org

Recall seeing a bit of information about Cornbury there.

Glenda