French Fashions – 1869

Two women are standing in a garden. The woman on the left wears her hair up with a single ringlet down at the back. Her dress has a low square neck edged with white pleated ruffles. The bodice and short puffed sleeves are deep rose pink. The skirt is white with five rows of pleated ruffles, a small train, and a white overskirt, drawn up with groups of pink and white flowers. Her accessories include gold crescent earrings, a pearl necklace, a gold bracelet, white gloves, and a white fan she holds in her left hand. The woman on the right wears her hair up with a ringlet hanging down at the back.

Her white dress has a jewel neck with a narrow ruffle, long sleeves, and fluted pleats along the skirt hem. The bodice has pin tucks, and the sleeves are gathered in at intervals down the arm. Over this is a short collared jumper dress in green. The jumper dress has fringe on the collar and scalloped hem. She is wearing pendant gold earrings and white gloves. Both skirts are wide in the crinoline fashion. Behind the women is a pedestal with an urn on the top. The urn is decorated with an animal head and a garland, and holds a red flowering bush.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges