Bridal fashions – Autumn 1860

Four women are depicted walking out of a building, followed by several others. The woman on the left wears a yellow bonnet with matching ribbon. Her dress is navy blue with a diamond pattern around the bottom of the skirt. Most of her dress is covered by a dark green shawl with a paisley pattern.

The bottom of the shawl has green, yellow and purple fringe. The woman next to her wears her wedding dress. Her hair is up and her veil descends at the back from a coronet of flowers. Her dress has a jewel neck, a lace trimmed collar, long sleeves, and a bow at her waist. There is a moire pattern on the dress.

The next woman wears a white lace bonnet with green ribbon. Her dress is brown with long bell sleeves. Down the center is a diamond pattern. She holds a handkerchief in her right hand. The woman on the right wears a pink bonnet with matching ribbon. Her blue dress has a white collar and cuffs. Her sleeves are long with ruched cuffs and a belt. Around the bottom of her skirt are five tiers of ruffles.

In the background are two men and two women following the bride. All the skirts are very wide; it is the height of the crinoline fashion. In the right background outside the building is a man driving a carriage, holding a whip, and a balustrade, a building, a fence, and trees.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges