Mother Hubbard (dress)
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A Mother Hubbard dress is a long, wide, loose-fitting gown with long sleeves and a high neckline. It is intended to reveal as little skin as possible. It was introduced in Polynesia by missionaries to 'civilise' what they considered to be half-naked savages of the South Seas islands.
Although this Victorian remnant has disappeared elsewhere from the world, it is still worn by Pacific women, although they have adapted it to a more gaily and also lighter (less hot) apparel, using cotton sheets, often printed in brightly coloured flower patterns.
- It is known as holokū in Hawaiʻi. A derivative, the muʻumuʻu, is much like it, but without yoke and train (and therefore even easier to make).
- In Tahiti the name was ʻahu tua (empire dress), although nowadays ʻahu māmā rūʻau (grandmother's dress) is used.
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