Evening Dress – Summer 1829

A woman wears a white, off-the-shoulder evening dress with short, puffed sleeves, full skirts, and a band at her waist. White, pink-edged ruffles extend from the shoulders, over the sleeves, which are banded in pink. The ruched bustline is caught up in the center with pink-and-white ribbon and a round, gold brooch, bordered and hung with pearls. A row of white bows with sprays of pink flowers at runs around the skirt at the knee. A diagonal strip of white ribbon runs from each bow down to the hem.

The woman wears white stockings and flat, white shoes, which lace up like ballet slippers. She wears a gold cuff bracelet on each wrist over her white, elbow-length gloves. Her pink hat has a dramatic, upturned brim and is decorated with large pink bows and a green-and-yellow bird with a long, yellow tail. The woman wears a short, twisted gold necklace and dangling, pearl earrings. She holds a closed fan in her right hand.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges