American Fashions – Spring 1861

Four women are depicted outside. The woman on the left wears a hat with a short black lace veil, feathers, and a bow. Her dress is brown with a jewel neckline and long sleeves. The panels on her dress have crenelated edges with three buttons on each section. She holds a fan and handkerchief in her left hand. The next woman wears her hair up in an elaborate braided bun. Her dress is off the shoulder with three-quarter length sleeves. Her dress is white and detailed with blue ruffles.

She holds a white parasol in her left hand and a handkerchief in her right. Her accessories include earrings, ta double strand pearl necklace, and a bracelet on each arm. The woman in the center sits on a black horse with a green rosette on his headstall. She is riding sidesaddle in a deep green riding habit. Her hat is a white Breton hat with two white plumes. Her habit has a plain collar and long sleeves with wide cuffs. The woman on the right wears a black Breton hat with peacock feathers.

Her purple dress has a white lace collar and long bell sleeves. She has buttons down the center front of her bodice. There are rows of black decorative bands ending in points along the hem and cuffs. She holds a handkerchief in her left hand and wears pearl earrings. There is a white dog with a collar standing next to her. All the skirts except for the riding outfit are very wide; it is the height of the crinoline fashion.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges