Fashions – c. 1870s

A colored Victorian fashion plate from the mid-1880s showcases an array of elaborate evening and afternoon reception dresses for women. The illustration features seven women standing in a row against a simple interior background, each displaying a distinct variation of the heavily structured bustle silhouette. From left to right, the garments include a forest green gown with a striped cream underskirt, a maroon and patterned dress adorned with a vertical row of red bows, a black velvet jacket bodice paired with a tiered ruffed grey skirt, and a vibrant green dress with pink accents held open to reveal a decorative fan.

To the right, a black gown features a diamond latticework pattern on the skirt, followed by a gold and blue floral embroidered dress, and finally, a steel blue textured gown with large structured bows decorating the side and back hip. The hairstyles are uniformly swept up in high, curled updos popular during the decade.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges