Hoop Skirts

[Union Maid]

My dress that I just bought says it can use a 5 or a 6 hoop but i do not feel like knockin people down, so which was most common? and which do you reccomend?

[ElizabethClark]

May I invite you to read some of the free articles on the site below my name? Look in the Compendium section... there's a LOT there. :)

Many merchants use that concept of "this will fit over a 4 or 6 or 92 rung hoop"--as if it actually means something. I'll tell you the secret that some of them don't get, and the others just don't care to tell: number of rungs has absolutely nothing to do with hoop circumference. A 6-rung hoop skirt can be 90" around, or a 2-rung hoop can be adjusted out to 180".

What matters is what is historically and aesthetically consistent. No matter how many rungs on your hoop skirt, it needs to be adjusted to suit YOU, and your activities. So, here are some questions back at you, to better help with some suggestions:

Is this a suspended (tape) hoop/cage, or rungs on hooping in a cloth skirt?

Does the hoop have a drawstring waist?

How tall are you?

Are you particularly stout or thin?

In your usual impressions, what sorts of activities do you undertake?

What is the general economic level of your normal range of impressions? What do your personas involve?

[Union Maid]

Is this a suspended (tape) hoop/cage, or rungs on hooping in a cloth skirt?

Hoops in a cloth

Does the hoop have a drawstring waist?
yes

How tall are you?
5'6
Are you particularly stout or thin?
Kinda in between, i wouldn't say thin or stout maybe leaning towards stout though.

In your usual impressions, what sorts of activities do you undertake?
this would be a ball gown

What is the general economic level of your normal range of impressions?
I'm not totally sure, its a beautiful looking dress I got for $50

What do your personas involve?
????

Thank you for your help and I will check out your site!

[ElizabethClark]

Great, that helps!

It sounds like you have one of the very-commonly-seen modern bridal hoops. The good news is, the rungs are fully adjustable for circumference, and the fabric-covered spaces between the rungs gives very even support. The down side is that the drawstring is very uncomfortable and unstable; I'd strongly suggest taking off the drawstring and gathering the whole waist down to a gently fitted waistband that fastens with a button. You get a much more pleasant evening this way, rather than worrying the string is going to give way!

You'll want to adjust the length--make sure that lowest rung is no lower than your calf muscle, to prevent tripping when you move, and to fall in line with the length of a lot of mid-century skirt supports.

You'll want to adjust the circumference of all the rungs. Aim for the lowest rung to be about 110" around; the upper rungs will decrease gradually from there. You're aiming for a nice belled shape, not a sharp cone or steep angles. It's okay for the hoop skirt fabric to scrunch up over the overlapped rungs; just distribute that shirring somewhat equally all the way around and you're set. Temporarily tack the individual rungs into their circumference with a bit of packing tape or medical tape while you work out the most pleasing graduations (you'll need help to do this!!) For permanant positioning, you can wire them in place, or even wrap them with a bit of tape, then push the casing closed.

110" around may sound small, but remember that's just your base frame. On top of that, you'll have one or two full-gathered (150" to 180") underskirts, and your dress. This gives a much 'boofier' silhouette, but you get to keep the smaller base frame, which increases your maneuverability and ease.

I think I wasn't very clear on the impression question: with the characters or roles you portray in event settings, what is *their* historical class level? Whether a character is working class, or professional/middle class, or leisure/upper class makes a big difference in the types of clothing they use daily, and also affects their special occasion clothes.

Since you'll be dancing, be sure to try the dress on after you get the hoop skirt and petticoats in place (the petticoats will be ankle-length). The hem will need to be adjusted most of the time, and you'll want to practice moving around with a very upright posture--if you stoop over or hunch at all, you'll be stepping on your skirts.

Does that help a bit?