A new type of lighter crinoline was patented by Tavanier in 1856. His design for the crinoline was inspired by the immense network of iron struts devised by Joseph Paxton for the construction of the Crystal Palace, in London, in 1851. The crinoline now became an apparatus of hoops made of flexible steel which supported the popular ever-widening skirts. The hoops or cage could either form a separate garment and be hung by tapes from the waist, or it could be sewn into a petticoat. This new innovation reduced the number of heavy petticoats women needed to wear to make their skirts stand out. It also gave them more freedom to move their limbs as the contraption stood away from their body. When a woman sat down it tilted up front, when she stood close to a table, it tilted up behind, and when she walked it gave her a graceful sway