In the time of the 19th century when Jane Eyre was experiencing the life of a traditional women society had very specific ideas of how women should look and dress. Most women wore draped and high-wasted gowns with a high rise tight bust and long bottom going to at least ankle length. Women such as Jane wore plain dresses to do work and because they were poor. Jane knew she was plain women and nothing like Rochester’s other suitor Blanche Ingram. Women such as Blanche would wear very elaborate and brilliantly made dresses because she was a wealthy socialite. All women’s clothing rich or poor had essentially one style and they had few other options but long dresses. Corsets and other frame work under dresses were also increasingly popular throughout Europe to give women the image of a small narrow waist and large hips and bodes. The way women would dress was based on a long tradition of modest women to cover to their wrists and ankles. Women would push this boundary continually by progressively tighter tops and a more exposed chest.