American Fashions – c.1890

Discover the Opulence of 1895 Late Victorian Plum Gowns

This magnificent 1895 antique fashion plate from La Mode de Paris captures the luxurious styling of high-society daywear during the Gilded Age. The illustration features an elegant woman dressed in a rich plum or magenta-toned gown, characterized by prominent, structured shoulder pleats that define the mid-1890s silhouette. The bodice is beautifully detailed with a black lace overlay and a high velvet collar, transitioning into a full A-line skirt decorated with intricate dark floral embroidery down the front panel.

Historical Legacy of La Mode de Paris Fashion Journals

Published by A. McDowell and Co. in New York and printed by Henry Petit Editeur in Paris, this original print (Fig 303) reflects the transatlantic nature of late nineteenth-century couture. The figure is depicted indoors near a potted palm tree, holding a closed umbrella or parasol and wearing an elaborate floral-accented hat with a yellow plume feather. This hand-colored engraving provides textile historians and collectors with an exceptional primary reference for elite dressmaking and accessories from 1895.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges