Court Dress, Reign of Louis XV – 1745

A man wears a long white wig, and a red frock coat trimmed in gold brocade and embroidery. The coat has deep, turned-back cuffs. His stockings are white, and his shoes are black and have small heels. Under his left arm he carries a black tricorn hat, edged in gold and sporting a black plume. The woman wears a pale blue off the shoulder dress. The neck is edged in lace, and the lower sleeves are made of layer upon layer of lace ruffles. The bodice is fitted and the skirt is very wide with tiers of ruffles, bows, and a long train. Her hair or wig is dressed close to her head at the crown, falling in long ringlets to her waist in back, and seemed to be powdered. The woman’s shoes are pale blue and high heeled. She wears a blue ribbon like a circlet around her head.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges