French Fashions – Spring 1859

A woman and two young girls are depicted in a parlor. The woman, standing to the left, wears a white lace bonnet with green ribbon. Her dress is tan with thin red edged lace ruffles that trims the sleeves, and the three tiers of the skirt. Her dress has a jewel neck and long sleeves. Her white blouse has a narrow collar, and long full gathered sleeves. She wears a green and red striped shawl trimmed with black lace over her elbows. Next to her is a young girl dressed for communion. She wears a white lace veil over a white bonnet tied under her chin, and a white dress. Her dress has a jewel neck and long sleeves. Her skirt has horizontal stripes or pintucks, and two tiers. She holds a prayer book in her right hand. The girl on the right wears a yellow bonnet with blue and white ribbon. Her dress is blue, with a black checkered pattern edged with narrow black trim, and ends just below the knee. Visible from under her dress is the white lace trim of her knickers. Her white blouse has long full gathered sleeves. She wears brown ankle boots and white stockings.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges