French Fashions – Spring 1858

Two women and a girl are in a parlor. The woman on the left wears a white bonnet with red flowers and green ribbons. Her dress is purple with a jewel neck and long bell sleeves. Pleated ruffles edge her sleeves and the front of her skirt. She wears a white blouse with long full sleeves, gathered into cuffs, and a narrow collar. The young girl in the center wears a white gown and veil, possibly for her first communion. Her veil is sheer and ends just above the floor. Her dress has a jewel neck, and long full sleeves gathered into tiers. Her skirt has two tiers, each with two rows of white on white pattern along the hem. The same pattern is on her wide lapels on her bodice. The woman on the right sits on a green upholstered sofa and wears a white lace bonnet with blue ribbons. Her dress is brown with long wide sleeves. Her skirt has three tiers and has lace ruffles along the hems. The lace ruffles also trim her sleeves, and she has a white blouse with full sleeves. She holds a book on her lap, and leans on her hand to look at the young girl.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges