Fashions – Winter 1838

Three women in fashions for December 1838. The woman on the left wears a pale yellow wide brimmed bonnet. Ruffles adorn the crown and back of the bonnet and green leaves decorate the top. A yellow ribbon ties in a knot under her chin. Her outermost garment is a green cloak with a small, ruffled, white collar. Below the collar is a wide dark green, “V” shaped yoke. The armholes and the zigzag edges of the cloak are trimmed with green ruffles with netting.

The yellow cuffs and lower sleeves are also visible where her arms extend from the cloak. She wears black shoes and white gloves. The woman in the middle wears a pink wide brimmed bonnet with white lace; pink and white feathers adorn the top. The edge of her white lace mobcap and a sprig of green leaves are visible beneath the brim. The bonnet is tied with pink ribbons. A black cloak with white fur trim is draped over her shoulders and tied in the center with a rose pink bow.

She wears a plain golden brown dress beneath her cloak and the cuffs and lower sleeves are visible beneath the cloak. She holds a lace edged white handkerchief and wears white gloves and black shoes. The woman on the right stands in profile, with her face hidden by her hat. She wears a white wide brimmed bonnet with white bows and ruffles decorating the crown, and pink flowers and green leaves decorate the brim. A white bow ties the hat under her chin. Her outermost garment is a blue and black striped cloak with a white ruffled collar. Under the collar is a black fabric yoke.

The black stripes are patterned with small squares and the blue stripes divided into even narrower dark on light blue stripes. The edge of the cloak is trimmed with ruffled black netted lace. The white zigzag-edged cuff of her sleeve is visible as she reaches her hand forward. She wears a black ballet slippers with white stockings and white gloves. The three women are standing on grey paving stones.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges