Bridal Fashions – Winter 1838

Two women in Parisian wedding fashions. The woman on the left is seated with her back to the viewers, but her face is visible in profile. Her hair is styled in an updo and is decorated with several kinds of white flowers with green leaves. A sheer, white veil cascades down her back from a white ornament attached to her hair. Her dress has a wide neck, trimmed with small, white, lace ruffles.

The top half of the v shaped yoke of the bodice is white with a floral pattern, with an edge of ruffles. The rest of the bodice is plain white with a white satin sash. Her sleeves are long with several tiers of ruffles and lace. The back of the skirt is plain white and pleated at the waist. The woman sits on a wooden bench with carved legs and a burgundy red cushion with gold tassels and fringe. She leans on a table covered in a burgundy tablecloth edged with gold fringe.

A white, floral patterned, brocade drape hangs in the background. The woman on the left stands facing the viewer, but her head turned toward her companion. She has white flowers with green leaves adorning the sides of her head. A white veil hangs from an ornament attached in her up-do. Her dress has an off-the-shoulder neck, trimmed with short, white, lace ruffles. The yoke of her bodice is floral patterned lace, edged with ruffles.

The bottom half of the bodice is composed of plain white fabric with a white satin sash around her waist. Her dress has long sleeves with three tiers of narrow, lace ruffles with a wider floral patterned lace ruffle below, with a center front split in the ruffle. She wears a pair of white gloves and holds a small book and lace handkerchief in one hand. The skirt is pleated at the waist and bell-shaped. The overskirt splits in the front and opens down the front to reveal the underskirt, composed of many rows of narrow ruffles.

The front edges of the overskirt are trimmed with lace ruffles, small rosettes and floral patterns, and has a wide ruffle gathered at the hem with matching edging. She wears a pair of white shoes. She is standing on pale blue carpet.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges