I wonder often if the Grecian Bend (an alleged late 1860s-1870s posture trend of women walking bent over) was really a thing or if men just misunderstood bustles
because sometimes when I’m wearing a bustle, I can be standing straight as a rod and look like I’m bending forward slightly. it’s an optical illusion- but you’d have to, like, ask me and/or listen to my response to know that. and cultural norms would have to allow for such a discussion between male commentators and women of fashion. which the late 19th century definitely did not encourage
In these pictures, I am standing up as straight as my sexuality isn’t. But could look like a slight forward bend if you tilt your head and squint
add to this the fact that it’s almost impossible to find a photograph, a painting, a fashion plate, or any image at all of a woman doing the Grecian Bend outside satirical etchings. or any firsthand accounts of a woman adopting such a posture on purpose; there’s one Laura Redden Searing quote people love to hold up as an example, but I’ve seen no context to indicate she was talking about the Bend specifically. the quote seems to be about uncomfortable fashions in general
in conclusion, my History Hot Take of the day is that the Grecian Bend could very well have been a myth perpetuated by men who didn’t know how bustles worked