Crinolines Making a Comeback?

Ooooh, how I WISH they were!  Nothing looks more feminine than a very full skirt and the illusion of a teeny, tiny waist!

I happened to mention to my friend Kim (she makes the luverly vintage reproduction dresses) over at Time Machine Vintage that I was on the lookout for a crinoline to use on my dress forms - I was thinking that a crinoline would be nice in showing off my aprons.  While at a flea market in Maine, Kim came across this absolutely gorgeous, vintage crinoline and snapped it up for me!  Wasn't that so sweet of her?!

I was dressing for a recent meeting with one of my retail clients and couldn't resist slipping on the crinoline.

Check out the before and after (sorry that the pictures are a bit fuzzy):

A little nervously I decided to head off to meet my client with the crinoline under my frock.  My client commented on my "puffy" dress and said she liked it.  Several other people in the salon stopped me to compliment my dress.  Hmmmm?  As I walked down the sidewalk to my car after the meeting I got a few looks which left me wondering, were those compliments genuine?  No mind because I LOVE the look.  I think the crinoline gives a fresh look to my modern dress...

...and offers me a little surprise underneath - ha!