French Couple – 1807

A man and a woman in French fashions for 1807. The woman’s outfit, labeled number “1,” is a light yellow gown with an empire waist. The blue bodice is edged with with yellow ribbon, with the ribbon lacing down the back, ending in a rosette. The dress has short, puffed sleeves, a triple zigzag ruff collar, and the hem is edged blue and yellow ribbon. An embroidered (or lace) fichu is draped around her neck. She wears long tan gloves, blue flat shoes, and a straw hat with a lace ruffle at the front is tied with blue and yellow striped ribbon.

The man’s outfit, labeled number “2,” is in the Napoleonic style of the First Empire. He wears tan breeches that are buttoned at the knee over white stockings. Over his white ruffled shirt with high collar points, he has a white cravat. His tan waistcoat has a standing collar. His gray cutaway tail coat has double-notched lapels, and narrow sleeves, full at the shoulder. He wears gray gloves, black low shoes with bows, and carries a black bicorne hat. His short hair is styled in the in loose curls after Napoleon Bonaparte.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges