French Fashions – 1847

Journal des Femmes 1846: Victorian Robe de Chambre and Morning Elegance

This exquisite hand-colored fashion plate from the 1846 edition of Paris’s Journal des Femmes introduces a refined indoor morning setting featuring a carved wooden side table with delicate crystal carafes and glassware. The seated figure showcases an elaborate 19th-century “robe de chambre” or indoor morning gown crafted from fine slate blue cashmere by Monsieur Bourgogne. The dress is distinguished by detailed black soutache embroidery on the cuffs and bodice, opening down the front to reveal a quilted crimson red lining and a lace-trimmed underskirt, perfectly capturing the luxurious comfort of upper-class Victorian domestic life.

Belgian Lace Ball Gowns, Duvelleroy Fans, and Historic Rue Laffitte Credits

Standing elegantly behind the green velvet salon chair, the second figure models a vibrant golden-yellow silk ball gown designed for high-society evening events. The dress features a deep off-the-shoulder neckline and a voluminous skirt embellished with vertical panels of fine French and Belgian lace, pinned with dark red rosebuds and matching floral hair ornaments. The comprehensive cursive text at the baseline provides unique SEO keywords, indexing legendary merchants at Rue Laffitte 44, including lace by the Fabrique Française et Belge, flowers by Madame Tilman, and gloves by Madame Séguin, ensuring premium search engine discoverability.