The Edwardian skirts are popular for many good reasons. The host achieved this stately movement as much by the restrictive nature of her clothes as by years of deportment and dancing lessons. Skirts were confining, being tight waisted and 'bell' shaped, with every aspect of the skirt presenting a concave curve. They followed the same sinuous lines of art nouveau.
The period 1897-1907 was the time of the 'flared skirt'. The skirt had never before presented concave surfaces other than in the train section. However from 1897 onwards the yoked skirt developed, the yoke being achieved by joining two widths of fabric, which reached the knee. Then a hole was cut in the centre to fit the required waist measurement. Circular extensions cut from a circle or deep, bias cut flounces were attached to the yoke and these additions tended.