American Fashions – Winter 1893

The ritual of year-end high society parlor entertaining and visiting garments in 1893

Showcasing the opulent dress codes for elite winter celebrations, this original hand-colored lithograph offers a magnificent window into late-19th-century luxury lifestyles. Sourced from the December 1893 publication of La Mode de Paris, the composition places a single model beside a plush crimson velvet parlor chair, illustrating how the New York publishers A. McDowell and Company curated highly structural daywear that combined heavy seasonal textiles with dramatic decorative yokes tailored specifically for formal holiday receptions and domestic calls.

Design breakdown of structured peplum bodices and tiered lace shoulder capes

The garment serves as a brilliant example of architectural garment engineering, pairing a rich tan brown wool cloth with vibrant emerald green velvet paneling. The upper bodice is defined by exaggerated mutton-style sleeves that taper sharply into embroidered lace cuffs, topped by a broad cape-like collar overlay trimmed with voluminous cream-colored lace ruffles. The cinched hourglass waist is further accentuated by a structured velvet peplum jacket insert, while the trailing skirt opens at the lower hem to reveal alternating layers of matching green pleats and geometric lace triangles.