panier

clothing

Also known as: pannier

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Last updated

July 23, 2026

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The term "pannier" has several meanings, primarily relating to containers or clothing. In its most basic sense, a pannier is a large container, such as a basket carried on an animal's back or a pair of baskets attached to a vehicle like a bicycle.1

In historical fashion, a pannier refers to a type of hoop skirt that expanded a woman's skirt at the sides, creating a basket-like shape. These were also known as "panier" in French and could become extremely wide, sometimes up to 18 feet. The term "panniered" describes something or someone bearing or wearing panniers.123

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dress
Europe, 1500–1800
Then known as a panier (“basket”), it consisted of a basket form on each hip tied in at the waist by tapes. Soon the frame became so wide that women found it difficult to negotiate a doorway or a sedan chair, so a collapsible folding panier was devised, made…
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Then known as a panier (“basket”), it consisted of a basket form on each hip tied in at the waist by tapes. Soon the frame became so wide that women found it difficult to negotiate a doorway or a sedan chair, so a collapsible folding panier was devised, made…
Read More

hoop skirt
The French name panier (“basket”) was used for skirts distended at the sides rather than all the way around. They could be as wide as 18 feet (5 metres), and satirists talked of hoops 7 or 8 yards (6 or 7 metres) wide.
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The French name panier (“basket”) was used for skirts distended at the sides rather than all the way around. They could be as wide as 18 feet (5 metres), and satirists talked of hoops 7 or 8 yards (6 or 7 metres) wide.
Read More