The 1924 Paris Olympics were not only important in terms of women's sport, they also influenced the fashions of the time. The Fitzwilliam exhibition focuses on the loose, drop-waisted, calf-length tennis dresses which gave wearers freedom of movement and comfort, and then became a popular style for non-athletes. These are the dresses we can imagine so many modern, energetic, female characters in our books wearing, having thrown off their stays and lacings, together with many societal restrictions. Jane in High Wages successfully coaxes many corseted customers into loose, fluid clothes.