School Days • Gibson Girl

“School Days” is an illustration of the Gibson Girl, a personification of the feminine ideal in the 19th century as depicted by Charles Dana Gibson. The 1890s and early 1900s saw the rise of the “New Woman,” a feminist movement responding to the social and cultural changes brought about by industrialization, print culture, and changes in the labor force. Women were characterized as independent, separated from the traditional roles of motherhood, well-read, physically fit, and capable of work on par with men. The impact of this movement is reflected in design history, such as in feminist publications of the 1900s, as well as in fashion history, where Victorian silhouettes gave way to more practical dress that allowed for sporting activities such as bicycling. The shirtwaist and skirt combination was popular for work or as sportswear, while walking suits and bicycling suits, referred to as “tailormades,” took similar form to their male counterparts and were developed for everyday wear.