Have a question? Need assistance? Use our online form to ask a librarian for help.
Chat with a librarian, Monday through Friday, 12-4pm Eastern Time (except Federal Holidays).
During the 1890s, people embraced the bicycle in increasing numbers. Since long skirts and other fashions were not safe for cycling, a new industry of fashion emerged. To find materials related to bicycle fashion, search the Library of Congress website and Digital Collections using keywords:
Periodicals and newspapers, especially from the 1890s, are a great resource for finding images and articles about the evolution of bicycle clothing. You can find articles like:
Evening Star (Washington, DC), March 14, 1896, Page 19, Image 19, col. 3-4.
Edgefield Advertiser (Edgefield, SC), July 29, 1896, Image 1, col. 2-3.
Bicycle Fashions by These two digital collections are a great place to look for images of bicycle fashion.
The subscription resources marked with a padlock 
are available to researchers on-site at the Library of Congress. If you are unable to visit the Library, you may be able to access these resources through your local public or academic library.
