French Ball Gowns – 1895

Two women are standing in ball gowns. The woman on the left is wearing a white satin gown with a very wide square neckline. Dark green bows form the short sleeves, and the bodice has a band of pink, green, and gold brocrade across the front, and green and pink netting overlays the white bodice. The waist of the dress is also dark green. She wears very long white gloves, has a small corsage of flowers, two gold bangle bracelets, and carries a closed fan.

The woman on the right is wearing a pink dress with large elbow length puffed sleeves, and a square neckline. the bodice is pink lace with a wide band of white ruching at the neck. At the waist is a belt of pink with a pink rosette at the side, with another rosette at the neckline. The skirt flares gently and has a very large pink bow trimming the left side near the hem. She wears over the elbow white gloves, a wide bracelet with pink and green, and holds a pink feather fan.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges