English Fashions – 1875

Victorian Bustle Silhouettes and Polonaise Walking Dresses

This exquisite 1870s fashion plate from The Young Englishwoman introduces the transitional bustle silhouette and polonaise-style walking dresses. The lady on the right is dressed in a vibrant teal-blue silk gown featuring heavy ruching, layered ruffles with fringe accents, and a distinct draped back volume that defines early bustle-era fashion. Holding a matching ruffled parasol or sun umbrella, this outfit exemplifies the highly structured and accessorized outdoor garments worn by upper-class nineteenth-century women.

High-Society Garden Fashions and Victorian Birdcages

Depicting a leisurely afternoon in a manicured estate garden, this historical engraving captures an interactive scene beside an ornate vintage metal birdcage with small birds. The companion gown showcases a striking contrast, pairing a mauve-pink tiered underskirt with a draped white overskirt accented by pink satin bows and a striped collar ruffle. Complete with an elaborate braided updo hairstyle and a tilted straw bonnet with blue ribbons, this lithograph beautifully illustrates the social hobbies and summer walking attire of Victorian high society.