ARCHIVED (8/1/2012) - This page not in use Actress and Author
She Who Wears The Pants  Charley Parkhurst, who later became one
of the most famous Stagecoach drivers in history, decided to
trade the dress for some pants  Taking “accessorizing” to a new
level, Victorian fashionistas were never spotted without their
colossal dresses, intricate hair fixtures or unyielding corsets.
During the mid 1800’s such adornments were essential in
maintaining one’s social status and provided an avenue for women
to display wealth and lust for luxury.  Cinching a woman’s waist
to often less than 20 inches, also known as tightlacing, was the
“en vogue” practice of the time, and restricted movement and
normal breathing for Victorian women. This discomfort,
exacerbated by dresses weighing up to 30 lbs all but prevented
women from engaging in active and meaningful lives outside of
the parlor. Knowing this, many men in Victorian society were
content to continue fronting exorbitant amounts of money for
such ornate costume.  Unfortu