American Fashions – Autumn 1898

A woman is leaning against a wall wearing a mauve dress with a bolero style bodice over a yellow blouse. The sleeves are tight and end with three pointed layers at the wrists. At the shoulders are three gathered ruffles. The bodice is formed of three layers of curved sections over a decorated black under layer.

There are curved bands over each shoulder ending in buttons. At the center front are fastened three flat back cord bows meeting at buttons on the blouse. The back view of the bodice shows the three layers rising into sharp points at the center back, over the black waist below. The yellow blouse has horizontal rows of ruching and white lace, with a very high neck.

The skirt is gored, flaring out to fullness at the back. The skirt has three rows of stitching creating a pattern that at the front is gently curved and at the back reaches upward ijto gentle points in the center back. A row of five buttons fastens the skirt at the back. She wears a black and white hat of fabric poufs and rosettes with a brooch or button, and yellow gloves.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges