Paris Fashions – 1873

Victorian Bustle Era Promenade Gowns from 1873

This authentic hand-colored fashion supplement from the British publication The Queen, The Lady’s Newspaper and Court Chronicle, dated September 6, 1873, beautifully captures the elaborate structural styling of the early bustle period. The illustration showcases two affluent Victorian women on a scenic architectural terrace overlooking a manor house. The lady on the left wears a striking forest green promenade ensemble featuring heavy draping, tiered flounces along the train, and a tailored jacket bodiced back, accessorized with a matching plumed hat and a velvet reticule or travel roll.

Extravagant Parisian Ruffles and Late 19th-Century High Fashion

The companion figure highlights the intricate layers of mid-Victorian textile craftsmanship, presenting a white and sky-blue day dress adorned with a multitude of box pleats, ruched trimmings, and cascading ruffles. Her silhouette emphasizes the high, dramatic shelf-like bustle shape popular during the 1870s, complemented by a delicate lace collar and an ornate floral cap with silk ribbons. Titled “Latest Paris Fashions” and bearing the signature of artist G. Gonin, this historic engraving provides key visual vocabulary for antique textile researchers, Victorian historical fiction enthusiasts, and period theatrical designers.