American Seaside Attire – 1897

A woman is standing on the beach. She wears a high-collared red and tan striped dress with cherry designs. She is wearing a white gathered blouse with a very high collar and a ruff at the neck edged in red. The bodice of the dress has a scoop neckline edged with a red ruffle.

The tan fabric has narrow horizontal brown stripes and a design of cherries across the bust. Square epaulettes top the sleeves and are edged with red fringe. The sleeves are red and puffed at the upper sleeves, narrow hugging the arm below the elbow, and end with points that reach over the hand, edged with white lace ruffles.

At her extremely small waist is a red sash, tied in a large bow at the left front. The skirt flares out and is banded with the cherry border at the hem, which is edged withe three rows of red fringe. She holds a white parasol in her white gloved hands. Her red hat is ornamented wit red bows and a white dove on it.

Behind her is a straight backed chair, and a view of the bay with two small sailboats. On the sand in the distance are bathers, including children, on the sand and in the sea, and striped bathing pavilions.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges