Evening Dress – Summer 1827

A woman in an evening dress from 1827. The woman wears a white, short-sleeved dress with gold ribbon detailing. Her waistline is defined by a gold belt with a red, square jewel and a white pearl drop pendant attached to the center of the belt. Two gold ribbons run from her shoulders to her belt. Three gold ribbons run down the center front of the dress to knee height.

There they form a pattern of pear shapes in rows, three, then four, and then all the way around the hem. The pear shapes are made of white and gold ribbon surrounding poofs in the dress. Below that, the hemline has a gold stripe at the bottom with a gold zigzag just above it and gold dots opposite each point of the zigzag. She wears long white gloves with gold trim, possible ribbon, and a ruffle at the top. She wears a gold bracelet with a large square emerald on each wrist.

Around her neck is a gold necklace with rubies and a cross-like pendant. Gold and ruby earrings hang from her ears. In her right hand she holds a dark fan. In her left hand she holds her veil, which is attached with a poof of white fabric to her bun. The veil drapes over her back and over her right shoulder and arm. As an adornment to her veil she wears a gold and ruby head piece. One white shoe is visible and she looks towards the right.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges