Mary Walker wearing a top hat

Dr. Walker was also a strong advocate for women’s dress reform, movement which began in the middle of the 19th century and whose goals was to change women’s clothing to be more comfortable and practical. She began wearing bloomers [loose-fitting pants, gathered at the ankle and often worn under knee-length dresses] during the Civil War and after the War began wearing “men’s clothing” – trousers and Prince Albert jackets, accompanied by short hair and sometimes a top hat. After the Civil War, Dr. Mary became president of the National Dress Reform Association and was active in the Central Women’s Suffrage Bureau.

Although Dr. Walker supported the women’s dress reform movement, her clothing choices were often too radical for other supporters, and this alienated her from the other supporters.