The Hobble Skirt Gown (1910–1913)

An exotic, narrow, draped satin dress featuring a high empire waist that tapered sharply toward the ankles, severely restricting the wearer's stride and requiring a small fabric fetter underneath to prevent splitting the seams. Eagerly flaunted by the elite and avant-garde trendsetters in high society, though it was roundly mocked by the practical and satirical cartoonists of the era.