American Fashions – Summer 1904

A woman stands in three-quarter view and leans casually against a rustic wooden fence outdoors with tall grass and wildflowers growing there. She has dark brown hair and wears a fashionable dark-colored suit with a white shirt. The skirt is flared with extra fullness at the back, forming a slight train.

A double row of white ribbon trim forms a zigzag pattern at knee level, ending just to the sides of the center front. The matching waist-length jacket has the same ribbon trimming in three bands below the bust. All the trimming, the jacket cuffs, and the lapels have top-stitched edges. The sleeves are bracelet length, with a slight flare, and are finished in small scallops trimmed in black.

The lapels are white, showing the same scallop edging as the sleeves, with additional trimming on the collar portion, which could be appliqued lace, or patterned fabric. The back view shows that the jacket has princess seaming and a short tail at the center back extending to the hips, the only place the jacket is longer.

Her white shirt has a high neck, long full sleeves, and is fastened with three black bows down the center front. The sleeves show the fullness beneath the jacket sleeves, and have banded cuffs and a ruffle at the wrist. The woman wears white gloves, and carries a cane, trimmed with two tassels. Her hat is trimmed with white bows, and a very large black feather plume across the front.

The illustration is black and white, except for the woman’s cheeks which are a rosy pink, and her hair, which is dark brown. A small back view of the suit is at the right.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges