American Equestrians – 1855

American equestrians with nanny and child

Mid-Victorian Equestrian Fashion and Women Riding Habits from 1855

This authentic 1855 fashion plate print from Godey’s Lady’s Book beautifully illustrates Mid-Victorian women’s outdoor sportswear and formal riding attire. The left side captures an elegant lady riding side-saddle on a dark bay horse, sporting a dark blue tailored riding habit jacket paired with an elaborate feather-trimmed straw bonnet. Beside her, another lady models a rich forest green crinoline walking gown adorned with distinctive mousquetaire sleeves and precise emerald ribbon trimmings.

Godey Unrivalled Colored Fashions Historic American Engravings

Bearing the iconic lower inscription Godey’s Unrivalled Colored Fashions, this antique hand-colored steel engraving showcases historical social dynamics alongside period costume design. The illustration portrays a domestic scene where a nanny in an apron leads a young child in a ruffled white dress toward the equestrians, accompanied by a small dog and a kitten. As an archival nineteenth-century fashion illustration, this artwork serves as a premium reference for authentic American Civil War-era textiles.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges