A bustle is a structured pad, cage, or framework worn under or attached to the back of a skirt or dress to add dramatic volume and shape at the rear. Originally a Victorian undergarment, the bustle has become a staple of drag, burlesque, cabaret, and theatrical costuming for its ability to create an exaggerated, theatrical silhouette.

Bustles add significant visual impact from the audience but require practice to move in comfortably. Test all choreography — especially turns and exits — before performing in a cage bustle for the first time.