Ball Dresses – 1858

Victorian ball gowns and antique formal evening dresses from 1861

This authentic 1861 fashion plate print titled Ball Dresses presents five elegant Victorian women socializing at a high-society evening gathering. Published during the American Civil War era, the illustration showcases the peak silhouette of the crinoline period, featuring expansive hoop skirts, off-the-shoulder necklines, and layered flounces. The dresses are hand-colored in magnificent pastel tones, including aqua blue, deep violet, mint green, and classic cream white laced with delicate gold trims.

Godey Lady Book historic evening fashion and Capewell Kimmel engravings

Masterfully engraved by Capewell and Kimmel, this nineteenth-century fashion illustration captures the luxurious domestic architecture and social etiquette of the elite class. The central figures are complemented by a young child in a ruffled pink party dress holding a hoop toy, highlighting family dynamics in Victorian iconography. Intricate details such as floral hair wreaths, silk fans, and pearl necklaces make this archival engraving an exceptional primary source for textile history.