During the decade of 1870’s ‘National Women Suffrage’ Association and ‘American Suffrage Association’ started a movement for bringing reform in women’s clothing. ‘Stanton’ was the leader of the former organisation and ‘Lucy Stone’ was the leader of the later organisation. The argument was simplify dress, shorten skirts and stop using corsets. On the both sides of Atlantic, there started a movement for rational dress reform. The reformers were unable to get any quick success in changing social values. They had to face ridicule and hostility. Conservatives opposed them every where. They argued that the women who gave up traditional dressing, no longer looked beautiful. They have lost their grace and feminity. Due to the continuous attacks by the conservatives, many women reformers again adopted the traditional clothes.
However, by the end of the nineteenth century, change was clearly visible. Under a variety of pressures, ideals of beauty and styles of clothing were both transformed. People started accepting the ideas of reformers which they had earlier opposed. New values come up with the changing times.
