American Fashions – Summer 1895

The social pageantry of equestrian racetrack attire and summer sportswear in 1895

Embodying the vibrant social spectacle of late-19th-century elite entertainment, this authentic hand-colored lithograph captures the highly specific dress expectations for attending horse racing events. Sourced from the June 1895 issue of La Mode de Paris by A. McDowell and Company, the scene set against a racetrack grandstand demonstrates how high-society women utilized outdoor sporting venues as public runways, debuting elaborate seasonal costumes that married structural French dressmaking patterns with the theatrical demands of summer socializing.

Chromatographic analysis of gigot sleeve volume and contrasting satin panelling

The visual composition relies on daring color combinations and massive geometric sleeve volume typical of the mid-1890s. The seated figure wears a dual-toned ensemble featuring a brilliant emerald green silk bodice with broad lace-trimmed lapels, paired dynamically with a pleated slate-blue visiting skirt. Standing beside her, the second model showcases a patterned dusty-pink dress with oversized “leg-of-mutton” sleeves, punctuated by bold yellow satin ribbons at the shoulders and waist, a black pleated yoke, and a heavily decorated wide-brimmed straw hat.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges