American Ball Gown – Winter 1898

Late Victorian Gowns and 1898 American Ball Fashion

This antique hand-colored fashion plate from February 1898 illustrates a stunning American ball gown from La Mode de Paris. Published by The Paris Fashion Company in New York, the lithograph features a woman showcasing a unique late Victorian evening dress. Her ensemble stands out with a tailored bodice and a stylized pouter-pigeon silhouette popular at the turn of the century.

Historical Zigzag Striped Skirt and Gilded Age Design

The illustration highlights an exquisite gored skirt with alternating diagonal sections of rose pink and turquoise blue stripes creating a distinctive zigzag pattern. Intricate floral embroidery and gold accents line the seams, while long white opera gloves and a fluffy white feather muff complete the high-society Gilded Age attire.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges