American Fashions – Summer 1880

Late Victorian walking suits and afternoon dresses from May 1880

This authentic May 1880 fashion plate print from Peterson’s Magazine titled Les Modes Parisennes The May Party exhibits five elegant Victorian women socializing outdoors near a garden terrace. The illustration showcases the slender, narrow-skirted Natural Form silhouette of the turn of the decade, featuring beautifully tailored cuirass bodices and intricate drapery. The figures model an exceptional collection of formal afternoon attire in diverse shades of steel blue plaid, deep olive bronze, striped dark brown, floral-patterned cream, and geometric black checkered trim.

Peterson Magazine garden party dresses and Illman Brothers engraving archive

Expertly engraved and printed by the renowned American firm Illman Brothers, this antique hand-colored steel plate provides outstanding primary documentation for historic textiles and dressmaking. The ladies display sophisticated seasonal accessories including folded silk parasols, high-necked lace collars, and structured velvet bonnets decorated with ribbons and spring flowers. This archival fashion illustration serves as a premium reference for researching late nineteenth-century social etiquette, luxury fabric combinations, and elite American costume history.