American Fashions – Autumn 1898

A woman is wearing a light green, high-collared, long-sleeved dress. A smaller back view of the same dress is pictured in the upper right corner of the plate. The sleeves are pleated at the shoulders to create puffed upper sleeves, and the lower sleeves are fitted tightly to the arm ending with a narrow dark blue ruffle at the wrist. The bodice has narrow bands of braid vertically up the front and back in a regular spacing.

The v neckline is assymetrical with lapels trimmed in dark blue with white lace edging. Two round decorative buttons fasten the bodice. Under the bodice she wears a high collared light red blouse, ornamented with lacy patterns in beading or embroidery. The high standing collar is edged with a narrow band of dark blue.

In the center of the blouse is a black or dark blue flower outlined with radiating lines curving outward from the petals across the bodice. The skirt is gored, and flares out at the hem with extra width at the back. There is a yoke or waist of dark blue, narrow at the front,and deeper at the back, with slight points at center front and center back, and a button on the front on her left.

Across the skirt at the hips are two curved shapes set off with narrow braid. In back the upper curves reach the center back forming a yoke, which is laced twice. At the lower edge of the curves they reach the center back near the hem in a point. On the hem are three rows of braid. The woman is wearing a black straw hat with a red flower and black feathers.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges