Aesthetic dress was a protest against the contemporary 
fashion for bustles in various forms and restrictive 
corsets. Only a very small section of the community ever 
wore it initially, but it did spread to middle class 
intellectuals, to artistic and literary people. Aesthetic 
dress was made of wool or Liberty silk or velvet fabrics.  
It was cut looser and was unstructured in the style of 
medieval or Renaissance garments with larger sleeves. The 
dress appeared loose compared with figure hugging fashion 
garments of the era. The typical aesthetic lady would have 
red flowing hair often henna enhanced, a pale face, green 
eyes and wore heelless shoes.