Bikes and Bloomers

Bikes and Bloomers is an illustrated history that shines a light on the often-overlooked role of cycle wear in women's liberation during Victorian Britain. This book explores how pioneering women not only imagined but also patented radical new forms of cycle wear, enabling them to navigate the challenges of conventional fashion and societal expectations. Through in-depth archival research and inventive practice, the author brings to life the stories of six remarkable inventors who designed convertible costumes and other innovative solutions to make cycling more accessible and comfortable for women. Their unique contributions continue to influence urban life for contemporary mobile women, highlighting the intersection of engineering, fashion, and feminism. The book delves into the material and ideological minefield that cycling presented for women, with conventional fashions being impractical and rational cycle wear often met with abuse. Despite these challenges, the inventors featured in Bikes and Bloomers demonstrated remarkable ingenuity and courage, patenting designs that transformed ordinary clothing into functional cycle wear. From the dual pulley system of Alice Bygrave's skirt to the Hyde Park Safety Skirt by Mary Ann Ward, each invention is a testament to the creativity and determination of these women, who played a crucial role in shaping the history of feminism and women's mobility.