Court Dress – Summer 1822

A woman wears a white court dress with an empire waist and short, puffed sleeves. The low, square neck is edged in pink ribbon and two rows of white lace. Three columns of pink chevrons decorate the bodice. White flowers, lace, green leaves, and pink chevrons adorn the sleeves, which are trimmed in pink. The skirt is sprigged with pink and has a wide border of puffed, ruched white fabric striped with pink and interspersed with pink rosettes. A pink train falls from the shoulders.

It is edged with identical white ruching and rosettes. She wears three strands of pearls or white beads around her neck, each more ornate than the one above. She wears large pearl drop earrings and an elaborate white headdress decorated with large, white plumes. Her shoes, stockings, and elbow-length gloves are white. The woman carries a closed, white fan in her right hand and has her train looped over her left arm.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges