Many years ago a purchased a hoop for my Dickens Fair costume. It was faster and easier than building my own. As time when along I became annoyed with the poor quality and incorrect shape so this year I finally made myself a really good hoop.

Fashions do not move in a strictly decadal cycle but its easier to think of it in this way. 1840s were bell shaped with a circumference of around 90". 1850s started off a more dramatic bell shape and moved into the cone shape towards the end of the decade. Maybe 120" circumference. 1860s the hoops stayed cone shaped but the axis of the cone was tiled so that the hoop came out farther in the back and the footprint was elliptical. Most of what is sold in bridal is closest to the 1850s. The elliptical of the 1860s is hard to find and hard to make. The bell shape of the 1840s is easier to make but also very hard to find.

This is a bell shaped 1840s hoop with 5 steel hoops and 3 flounces made in an eyelet dot. The base material is a light weight cotton duck so it is very sturdy and will withstand many washings. The waistband is belt like. This makes the fit much more secure when wearing heavy skirts over the hoop and will not slip down like draw string waists.