The Bustle Skirt

A skirt that makes you think of Sir Mix-a-Lot's famous song 'I like Big Butts', it's a typically Victorian piece of clothing, and one of the hardest to duplicate. Whether it's the framework that goes underneath the skirt or the drapery that the framework is meant to support. Mixed with a corset, it's meant to create a certain silhouette, an idealized representation of female sexuality. Big Butts were in in the Victorian era!

A lot of people who enjoy the Victorian look, myself included, like the bustle. For me, paired with the corset, it is what attracted me to the look, but they're somewhat hard to duplicate. A full framework bustle can be difficult to make, but it is not possible. Threadbangers made a detailed tutorial of how to make a bustle for a steampunk DIY and Becca from Cut out and Keep has a great tutorial for a Burlesque Bustle Skirt.

These are two great tutorials, put the two together and you can make a great bustle skirt fitting for any occasion. My favorite method, which they covered in Threadbangers, is the ruching method. Mixing it with the layering method by Becca, if done right, can make an authentic looking bustle.

Handmade bustles can be found on Etsy.