Fashions – 1840

A hand-colored fashion plate from the early Victorian era, circa 1840s, illustrates elegant winter outwear and morning dresses for women. The scene features three women in an indoor setting next to a mantlepiece with a flower vase. The woman on the left is viewed from behind, wearing a blue and grey plaid patterned dress with structured, tiered sleeves, a white lace collar, and a large straw bonnet with a veil.

The central figure wears a striking black cloak heavily lined and trimmed with white ermine fur, a matching fur muff to warm her hands, a vibrant turquoise blue gown, and a white bonnet adorned with pink flowers. The woman on the right is dressed in a tan or beige pelisse-robe with a wide shawl collar, tasselled closures, and a matching pale blue bonnet lined with pink fabric and flowers. All three figures showcase the sloping shoulder silhouette and voluminous dome-shaped skirts characteristic of the decade.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges