Are Petticoats Fun to Wear ?

[Robbiegirl]

Love how they look and puff out dresses but have never had the chance to wear one

Did you ever have a chance to wear one and have fun memories or are they too much work

Are they Fun ? To get a really puffy look do you need more than one or a special type ?

Any recommendations or thoughts would be great

[Francene Lola Dupree]

One of my very early exposures to crossdressing was wearing my grandmother's petticoats in secret when I'd stay over.

I do find them a lot of fun and exuberantly feminine, but you need to make sure you have a suitable dress to get the puff effect. Also matching the length of the petticoat to suit the dress is more difficult than it would appear in my experience. Many failed outfit combinations.

xXx

[Robertacd]

Well my first foray into cross-dressing was my sister's square dancing dress complete with ruffled pantaloons and crinoline.

I always thought they were fun to wear.

[Lydianne]

Twice to the mall. Red, sleeveless, 50s style dress. Had fun! :daydreaming:.

- Lydianne.

[AllieSF]

If you buy one on line just realize that some are very rough on the skin, and even worse so if you have sensitive skin. I have a couple that are more like nylon with sewn in ruffles that help do the same thing and they are very smooth and soft. Otherwise they do fluff out the dress or skirt, almost too much.

[Rachael Leigh]

I’ve worn just a few in my dressing experiences but mostly fetish wear such as maids dresses.
But yes they are quite fun and feminine

[RADER]

I have a crinoline that I got from Romance Dresses. It makes your skirt stick out
almost 20" in each direction. You can hardly walk down a flight of stairs with out your skirt rubbing
against both sides of the walls. A lot of fun to wear, but not so much when you try to sit down.
It is somewhat like a Square dance outfit.
rader

[Asew]

I love the look, but there a lot of cons. Cheaper ones don't feel very nice (so you need something between petticoat and legs such as slip or hose. Cheaper ones may not have enough poof. You have to match the lengths. And possibly match colors. Certain types you should avoid sitting in one too long otherwise you squish down the poof in the back. Storage is a hassle (take up a lot of space and don't want to ruin the symmetry of the poof). But they look so nice.

Despite having 2 petticoats, I just prefer skirts with built in layers for a similar effect. While they aren't as poofy they are way easier. So they are in the rotation way more often.

[Macey]

I love it. I like my A-line skirts and vintage dresses, a crinoline just completes the look. I wouldn't say the style is very 'blendable' for going out so I'd only wear one if it were for a specific sort of thing (I dunno, a rockabilly event, costume party, some sort of vintage affair). But there are advantages. They accentuate your hips and waistline, giving a better hourglass impression, and the way the skirt flares out, no need for tucking. Plus, if it is a little chilly, the material acts a little like a layer of insulation. You want the crinoline to be the same length as your skirt (more or less, you have some wiggle room). Additionally, just a peek of the crinoline under the hemline is a cute look, but you can also use it as an accent depending on what color dress/crinoline. Lastly, the flared skirt with crinoline really encourages one to sit like a lady!

[Beverley Sims]

Yes, they are wonderful, the full petticoat is a great garment to wear under a square dancing dress.

They give a fantastic look with 60s wear.

[Zoeytgtx]

Robbie:
They are almost mandatory to propery poof out my 50's vintage dresses.

Zoey

[dana digs sweaters]

"Secrets in Lace" my Dear

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[Judy-Somthing]

With the right dress they're pretty cool.
The thin I hate most about them is that one ball gown or wedding dress can take as much space as 10 to 15 dresses and when you need to hide your stash that a lot of space!

[docrobbysherry]

Nonsense, Judy! I have over 10 petticoats? Many r quite long. However, they ALL stuff down into small plastic bags with no damage!:thumbsup:

Robbie, the problem with petticoats is the wide variety of length, thickness, and density they come in. It's almost necessary to buy one for a particular skirt/dress! However, I have had good luck stacking them one on top another. Short, thick ones underneath; long, thin ones on the outside!:D

I am wearing 5 petticoats under this dress!:daydreaming:

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[Tracii G]

I wore one at 15 years old and it was OK. It was a prom dress oh and the prom was fun too.

[Sherrii]

Yes!! Especially if you have a french maid outfit to go with it. Sherrii

[Seana Summer]

I have a petticoat that goes with a knee length retro style dress that I have traveled with a couple of times. When I ordered it from Amazon I observed how they pack them to ship them to take as little room as possible. I pack the petticoat by first folding it down as well as I can into a shape that will fit in a gallon ziplock bag. Once I have it in the bag I squeeze out all the air I can. So far I have not had any trouble poofing it back out and they take up surprisingly little storage space.

[Crissy 107]

I wore one at 15 years old and it was OK. It was a prom dress oh and the prom was fun too.

Tracii, You went to the prom in a dress? Good for you!!

[Tracii G]

I did and I have shared that story here before.
Its a long story and would take a few cold beers to tell it all.

[Leslie Mary S]

When My wife was alive we square danced. we were poor people so I would make her petticoats. some of them were called 50 yard petticoats. Yes I wore them when I could. One year I made my wife and second daughter matching outfits with each of the girls having matching white petticoats except my daughter's had Red bias tape with sequins sewn on the 50 yard bottom edge. My wife's was white bias tape. I made my own bias tape It took me two weeks to make both petticoats. I also made for the two , and my son and Myself outfits including a vest for each of the four of us. We wore them at a fashion show in Indianapolis at a national square dance convention. I made my wife a black 50 yard petticoat (which I modeled for her).
so yes I was wearing petticoats under full circle skirts off and on since 1964 but never out of the house. After my wife passed away I did wear in public a poodle skirt with a 25 yard petticoat at a CD meeting in Atlanta GA. (Phoebe Reece you were there).
I like to wear them. I still have that pastel pink one in the closet.

Guess I could say I like them for the feel and the good time memories with my wife.
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[rachel_rachel]

Ive got several, but I love the pin up look and every pin up girl needs a petticoat.

[Teresa]

Robbie,
Of course they're fun to wear , it's one of those real girly moments to enjoy . As a member of my social group says he loves the few hours to live his boy hood dream .

I remember clearly my sister wearing them for her ballroom dancing , I just couldn't resist them as soon as the house was empty .

A French Maid outfit just doesn't work without one , I bought mine some years ago as a complete package , black satin dress, apron , petticoat ,matching full panties and neat head cap . It doesn't get worn often but I'm not tossing it all away .

[Vale]

I agree with Macey. I wear them at home regularly wth skater dresses and fit & flair dresses. I prefer the soft ones - not too poofy. They give me a swing to my step that I enjoy.

Vale

[Kay J]

A friend of mine when we were in our teens had a sister that had three petticoats and five pairs of pettipants had a Gr8 time o yes back in the day.

[lingerieLiz]

I had some and wore them back in the 50s. I actually inherited them from my sisters. There are different type/uses for petticoats. If you watch some of the 50s tv shows you will see adult women wearing them under their more formal attire. I remember girls wearing them to school and on the school bus. These were more puffy than what adult women usually wore. When I started wearing skirts with the petticoats out my sisters clued me in to wear a half slip under them because they are scratchy. Even with nylons on some were. Back then girls didn't wear nylons always. One night I wore a garter belt and and one of the seams rubbed in all the wrong places. Even through my patties. From then on I was careful to wear a slip. It was fun to sit in the car and have your skirt almost a foot high with the lacy petticoats showing. Of course your skirt would slide up or actually down toward your hips.

[Leslie Mary S]

"Secrets in Lace" my Dear

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I like your look.
The first shot looks like a 25 yard petticoat and the other 3 are 15 yard petticoats.
the hose you have on in the third photo, the ones with the seam down the back. has interesting heels. The top of each leg it looks like a hole or cut-out.

[chris80]

Tracii, would you care to retell the prom story or give a clue whereabouts in your 18000+ posts it can be found?

[Stephanie47]

I have several petticoats which 'puff' out the skirt of a dress. Fun to wear. Petticoats range from maybe several layers with a little 'poof' to the square dance or French maid type. If you're headed to a theme party dressed for the 1950's or early 1960's then a poodle dog skirt and petticoat are fun.

[susan54]

I have several big petticoats. They are lined so they are not scratchy. I have worn one in public with a halter neck fifties dress and it was great fun. I was staying in a country house hotel and asked the receptionist what she thought about me wearing this. She asked to see the dress and came to my room. She urged me to go for it and I did. I even wore stockings which I hardly ever do. It was wonderful but it was quite difficult to get my seat close to the table for dinner. At a fashion show I wore a less bulky one and just like the fifties dress it peeked out beneath the dress. They are fun.

[annecwesley]

I have a few and have had a few more. They can really help your figure.

I tried wearing one of my bulkier ones as extra insulation for a walk in the woods under a heavy long wool skirt. It was 12 degree below zero (Fahrenheit) and I realized why they were invented in the first place back in the dark ages.

[Macey]

Twelve degrees below zero and you're out in the woods in a skirt??? Please tell me you had some leggings on as well! :-O

[Roxanne Lanyon]

Oh, I have never had the honor to wear one. Should I? What will it be like, girls? Will I be pretty and sweet in one? Oh, I think I would like to try one under the right circumstances, What would the right circumstances be, anyway?
Love, Roxanne Lanyon

[jandebs]

Petticoats are made for dancing don't you think? I love jiving, and this year met my lovely friend Len who's a great dance partner. We live in London and there's a monthly jive evening at the Rivoli Ballroom; a great night out!
I've not found a decent petticoat brand in the UK and buy them from the U.S. - either Sam's or Malco Modes. I've altered the length so they're exactly right for the dress.

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[Princess Chantal]

Fun? Not at all look how sad I look in one..... never again :battingeyelashes:

[susan2010]

my first memory of cross-dressing is when I was 4 or 5 years old. I just had to try on my sister's white petticoat. Now 60 years later, I still love them: one small one for wearing as a French maid, and two larger, full ones. They are the most feminine thing to wear, but I've rarely wore them out of the house.

[Lorna]

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned the stiffened petticoats that were designed to provide support for wide skirts but without all the layers. Materials such as "paper nylon" and various stiffening agents were used to make the slip stand well out from the legs. Wearing one gives a completely different experience from the multi-layer nylon net types, more like that of a hooped petticoat but somewhat less extreme. With the petticoat and skirt held out well away from your legs you wouldn't feel the skirt at all, giving complete freedom for the legs. Obviously, though, if the skirt was on the short side the danger of exposing stocking tops was somewhat greater and you had to be careful when sitting down. The plus side was the freedom from the scratchiness of the net petticoats and ythe much lighter weight.

[dana digs sweaters]

I like your look.
The first shot looks like a 25 yard petticoat and the other 3 are 15 yard petticoats.
the hose you have on in the third photo, the ones with the seam down the back. has interesting heels. The top of each leg it looks like a hole or cut-out.

Certainly you do NOT think that those models are moi?
Certainly they are women
Of course, what crossdresser wouldn't love to have such sensational legs like those two ladies?

[Leslie Mary S]

Oh, I have never had the honor to wear one. Should I? What will it be like, girls? Will I be pretty and sweet in one? Oh, I think I would like to try one under the right circumstances, What would the right circumstances be, anyway?
Love, Roxanne Lanyon

You have got to try one on. just find yourself a full circle skirt to wear over it. If Your "Can Can" Slip is of a stiffer material or it doesn't have a inner lining, you might want to try using a half slip next to your legs.
Good petticoats are made with a soft material on the inner most layer. You need the stiffer material to make them really stand out. At the top is about a six to 8 inch single rayon section that has the elastic at the top and the tiers attached to the bottom. This keeps the wearer from looking like she has fat hips. People who commercially make them for the square dance world have quit using the traditional crinoline net and use a material that is much softer.
At first you will feel a bit awkward in it because it take a bit of skill to navigating in it (Going trough normal width doorways). Once you get out in the open make a quick turn and then turn back. try some spins too. They have their own feel.
They are measured in "yards" That is the length of all the material used in all the tiers (normally two to four tiers) the fullest are 100 yard long.
The first one I made for my wife (50 yards) back in 1963 coast about $6 USD.
Now they run from $35 to $150 new.

[Brenda Freeman]

I enjoy petticoats. It goes back to when I was very young seeing them in the movies with pretty dresses and costumes. I thought they looked so cute and feminine. I bought one for my first maid uniform and loved lace and the flare out of the short dress. Later I found some square dance dreses and petticoats used and so had to have them. I mainly dress to enjoy wearing at home and photo ops but have worn occasionally to dress up parties, Halloween. Thye are fun to twirl when dancing.

[Jenny22]

Hmmmm .. since petticoats seem to be so loved by CDers who wear/wore them, why was 'punishment' often used in connection with them? Can't help but wonder.

[Erin.Sometimes]

I'm kind of a big fan of vintage 50's style dresses (or at least that's what they're called on Amazon, not sure how accurate that description is), so I've got a couple petticoats to wear with those and I really dig 'em. It just feels right since the dress was made with the intention of having the extra volume underneath.

[docrobbysherry]

So many photos of 1/2 slip petticoats, if in fact all r petticoats? Some short ones r called something else, too. Crinoline, I believe?:straightface:

But, full petticoats r more spectacular in my mind! Here's an old pic of mine:

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[Leslie Mary S]

some of the long length dresses have a hoop structure nuder the petticoats to hold them out and that way the wearer is cooler in the summer and carries around a lot less poundage. I did make one hoop structure. used bamboo strips in the hoops. Never again.

[AllieBellema]

Most everything I have to wear requires either a hoop skirt or a petticoat and they are the big influence in how I started in dressing up. They make all the dresses poof out so nicely and make them very fun to wear, love how they look in the end! You feel like a princess as you look at yourself in the mirror!

[Robbiegirl]

Can you ever wear too many Petticoats ?

Their is a gal on Flickr Deedee Fullskirt that looks like she is wearing like 5 or 6 ! She is clearly having lots of fun

[Piora]

"Secrets in Lace" my Dear

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You're singing my song, Dana! I have a pair of French Heel like the model is wearing in the third photo. Love the petticoat as well. I've only bought stockings and garter belts from SiL, but I'd love a couple of these petticoats. The only petticoat I have is one that came with a French Maid costume I have. I love it, although I don't wear it much.



the hose you have on in the third photo, the ones with the seam down the back. has interesting heels. The top of each leg it looks like a hole or cut-out.

Sorry Leslie Mary, but those photos are models from Secrets In Lace. But I'm sure Dana would rock that look anyway! :battingeyelashes: The "cut-out" at the top of FF seamed stockings is called the "keyhole". It's created as part of the manufacturing process. Non-seamed FF stockings don't have that, only seamed ones.

[Leslie Mary S]

Sorry Leslie Mary, but those photos are models from Secrets In Lace. But I'm sure Dana would rock that look anyway! :battingeyelashes: The "cut-out" at the top of FF seamed stockings is called the "keyhole". It's created as part of the manufacturing process. Non-seamed FF stockings don't have that, only seamed ones.

Thank you. to date I have NEVER worn any seamed stockings but have worn several petticoats during the manufacturing of them for my wife and two daughters. Drab me did get to wear some in skits at the square dances. Leslie Mary (me) has worn one only once in public.

[Janice An]

Yes they are FUN. The best thing to happen to a skirt !

[Leslie Mary S]

Can you ever wear too many Petticoats ?

Their is a gal on Flickr Deedee Fullskirt that looks like she is wearing like 5 or 6 ! She is clearly having lots of fun
Yes So many that the dress hem is above your hem-line.

[JulieB]

Petticoats, probably one thing I haven't worn in my years of CD. Guess I better put that one on my CD bucket list.

[Donna St. Marten]

I'm wearing one under this dress, does it look like I'm having fun?

[Leslie Mary S]

I think you have the right amount for the outfit. Are you having fun? you tell us.

[Donna St. Marten]

My smile says it all.

[BettyMorgan]

OMG petticoats are fun! They certainly make you stand out from everyone else.
I have a bubblegum pink one from the 60's and it's such a soft chiffon. Works best on full skirts/dresses the right length. I bought a less full black one from China and it does the trick on more modern skirts. They do take up room as mentioned above and they don't always make it easy to sit down or walk through a doorway lol. But dang, they are so feminine.:battingeyelashes:

[Leslie Mary S]

Remember that they compress down to a tube 6" in diameter and only 8" long. I use to make them for my wife's dozen or so petticoats. When Traviling we always carried four for her and two each for both daughters (8 total) in a 1972 Pinto Station-wagon.
I had built my own hard case roof rack for all the square dance outfits and other clothing. There were 5 people in the car.

[RobynB]

I just love my petticoats with a square dance dress or a maid uniform.299791299792

[alwayshave]

Robyn, I love that red check dress. Beautiful.

[Robbiegirl]

Robyn, love the pic in the red dress !

Your French Maid pic is cute to but you kind of look like you lost a bet and had to get dolled up in it !

[Lilith Moon]

Materials such as "paper nylon" and various stiffening agents were used to make the slip stand well out from the legs.
I have 2 different length 'paper nylon' petticoats. They tend to be quite noisy, which I like. Sort of remind you they are there.