Panniers (jan 1, 1740 – jan 1, 1760)

Description:

The middle of the century marked what is perhaps the highest point of the rococo style. The stiffness of the earlier years had been abandoned. Women's dresses were marked by a form of the side pannier. Panniers were similar to hoopskirts but sat at the hip sides, giving the ladies a wider silhouette.
In the 1740's, panniers expanded to extreme widths which made it difficult for women to enter a doorway. Excessive widths drew ridicule from many fronts and caused men to complain that women now took up too much space. This style remained a staple of court dress until 1760.