Petticoats? Crinoline? Crin? Do these phrases confuse you, or have you just been informed that your Quinceañera gown needs them? Perhaps you've tried on your Quinceañera gown and found yourself slightly disappointed that it did not look as regal and poufy as it did in its photos.

Either way, petticoats are an essential Quinceañera fashion! They are as important as the gown to hold its shape and help the young Quince feel like royalty. Today, we look at this essential part of Quinceañera fashion, where it came from, and how to wear one with your Quinceañera gown.

Crinoline

Initially, a crinoline was a stiff, structured petticoat that held out a skirt. The term crinoline or petticoat today is interchangeable and now refers to the same thing—which can be confusing. During the 19th century, however, the crinoline was described as a stiff fabric that was once created from horsehair (called "crin") and cotton or linen to make the underskirts as a dress lining. Today, crinolines generally implement a nylon stiffening tape for interfacing and lining.

By the 1850s, crinoline didn't just refer to the horsehair petticoats but also to the hoop skirts that replaced them. In form and function, there was little difference between them and the 16th-17th century farthingale and the 18th-century panniers, as they all enabled skirts to spread wider and fully.

The first use of steel was patented in April 1856 by R.C. Milliet in Paris and by their agent in Britain a few months later, which became widely popular. Crinolines became a part of every woman's wardrobe, regardless of social standing or class across the Western world. By 1878 however, the crinoline was considered out of fashion.

Revival

The crinoline silhouette of fuller skirts had several revivals in the 10th century, especially in the late 1940s, thanks in part to Christian Dior's "new look" of 1947. Flounced nylon and net petticoats were worn in the 1950s and 1960s to poof out skirts, also called crinolines, even when no hoops were involved. In the mid-1980s, Vivienne Westwood designed the mini-crini, a mini-length crinoline that highly influenced 80s fashion. The late 20th and early 21st centuries saw designers like John Galliano and Alexander McQueen showcase modern crinoline designs. Since then, the crinoline, or petticoats, has remained a popular option for formal evening dresses, wedding dresses, and ballgowns.

The Quinceañera Gown

In some cases, when shopping for the perfect Quinceañera gown, you'll note these big, poofy, puffy, dream-like dresses. Unfortunately, most of these dresses do not come shaped like that without using petticoats. To build the fullness you want, you can find the poofiness you wish for your dress. You may not have realized that petticoats are needed if you've never tried on a Quinceañera gown in a shop, as it is standard practice for the store representatives to have you wear a petticoat first when trying on dresses.

To truly showcase your magnificent Quinceañera gown, we believe a petticoat is essential to the Quinceañera dress. Two types of petticoats that are common with a Quinceañera gown:

• Stiff and firm, usually with built-in hoops made of strong nylon.
• Light, fluffy, layered tulle without the use of hoops.
• Both will have either an elastic or drawstring waistband
• Either may come with a ribbon hemline bottom, lace bottom, ruffle bottom, or a simple hem.

How To Choose The Right Petticoat

Choosing the right petticoat should happen after you have selected, purchased, and tried on your Quinceañera gown. This can take a lot of unknown factors out of the picture to give you hands-on experience with the dress and how it moves to make the right decision that works for you.

Try the dress on at the shop or home and walk around for several minutes, walking normally and turning a few corners to observe how the gown reacts. If you feel the dress slipping between your legs and tangling within them, you'll need a petticoat to keep the dress from tangling in your legs.

A-Line Quinceañera Gown

An A-line Quinceañera gown is form-bitted in the bodice, then begins to flare out at the waistline. Through sewing darts, this forms a triangle silhouette that resembles the capital letter A. A-line emphasizes the waist, hips, and bust line and is one of the most popular dress styles.

With an A-line dress, you can purchase and wear an A-line petticoat.

Mermaid Quinceañera Gown

A mermaid-style Quinceañera gown is characterized by a fitted silhouette that hugs the body from the bodice down to either the knees or mid-thigh, and the skirt begins to flare out from there into a dramatic mermaid tail shape. Consider wearing a mermaid fishtail petticoat for a full, floaty-looking mermaid gown.

Quinceañera Gown With Train

For a Quinceañera dress or ballgown with a train, the train petticoat is the perfect accessory to wear under the gown. A train is a long fabric that extends and hangs along the back of the gown—you may have seen these in wedding dresses as well.

Tips for Shopping Petticoats Online

When searching for your perfect petticoat, consider the height and length of your Quinceañera gown. Petite or tall Quinces should pay extra attention when ordering one. While you may need to alter your Quinceañera gown here and there, you no doubt want not to have to do so for petticoats, so it is crucial to order one that will fit your height and the gown.

Additionally, when you order your petticoats online, there is no chance to touch or wear the material that will be sitting against your legs under the gown, so we recommend a protective, soft fabric on it the inside or pairing it with a soft slip.

Other important tips to be comfortable in your gown and petticoats:

• Consider choosing very comfortable undergarments and a pair of high-waisted shorts or leggings to protect your waist and skin.
• Ensure your undergarments are breathable and moisture-wicking so you don't overheat in your gown.

Curious about what other items are essentials for Quince fashion? Check out our tips and tricks on how to Rock a Cape.

We hope that we've been able to answer your questions about petticoats, an essential Quinceañera fashion! When it comes down to it, the most critical aspect of the Quinceañera is to be as comfortable as possible while looking and feeling magical.