American Fashions – Spring 1899

A woman is wearing a medium blue suit with dark blue trimming. In the left hand corner is a view of the back of the suit. The sleeves are long and snugly fitted with narrow dark blue banding trimming the sleeve hems.

At the tops of the sleeves are two narrow folded sections, creating epaulets. The jacket bodice is in two sections. The upper section is of bias-cut blue and white plaid. The body of the jacket has very slight gathering at the armhole and center front. The lower section of the jacket is decorated with five rows of horizontal blue banding, with very narrow white trimming on the lower edge of each row, rising to points at the sides and center back.

Five small buttons are positioned at the front edge of the jacket at the end of each row. Under the jacket is a dark blue satin vest with a curved center front, and four small buttons fastening it above the bust line. Under the vest is a white lace blouse with an extremely high snug neckline, reaching to just under her chin, and also banded with two rows of blue at the neck. A fall of white lace emerges from the vest below the bust, hanging a few inches below her waist.

The flared skirt has tucks at the center back to add fullness. The hem of the skirt is trimmed with the same combination of dark blue bading with narrow white edging on the lower edge, forming large zigzags from below the knee to the hem. She is wearing a black hat with dark blue and mauve flowers at the front, and is holding a black umbrella.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges