 Hey there, cage crinoline! This 1860s number is made from metal wire, cotton tape, and a touch of leather. The hoops of cage crinolines could be made of whalebone, cane, or steel - that last became quite popular when factories started making them mass assembly style (aka cheaply). These crinolines meant that girls could achieve the desired volume in their dress without having to wear a million layers. It also meant that they could dance, squat, and air things out a little with relative ease. Hurrah!   Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of New York, Purchase: New York Historical Society (by exchange), 1985.    