Fashions – Winter 1840

The woman on the left wears a soft purple dress with long full sleeves, lacy cuffs, a belt, and two ruffled flounces at the hem. The dress has a pinafore-style shawl collar edged with two ruffles that reach almost to the elbows. The area between the collar is also soft purple and has a white lace ruffle across the neckline, with a brooch pinned below it.

The woman wears soft purple shoes, yellow gloves, and a white bonnet lined in pink and trimmed with white plumes and pink flowers. She sits on an armless wooden chair with an open back holding an envelope with a pink seal. Her companion, on the right, wears a white dress with lacy cuffs, long sleeves, and an overskirt that divides in the front to display the underskirt, which has two bands of pleating at the hem. The dress has a cape collar edged with the same pleating.

She wears a lacy white cap trimmed with a pink bow that has long lace-edged lappets. Her gloves and pointed shoes are white, and she sits on an overstuffed ottoman footstool which is upholstered in blue and fringed and trimmed in gold. The woman holds a small tambour embroidery frame, with crewel work of roses and leaves, and has three balls of yarn in her lap and on the floor. The two women sit indoors; an elaborate candelabra wall sconce, with three lit candles, lights the area from the wall behind them.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges