French Fashions – 1882

Two women stand at a counter in a floral shop discussing bouquets with the florist. The woman on the left wears a green hat with a red flower and pink ribbons. Her dress is maroon with a matching velvet jacket. Her hip length jacket has long sleeves and pleats in the back and on her sleeve cuffs. Her skirt has ruffles cascading down the sides and back, and pleats at the hem. Her hair is dressed high under her hat, with bangs, and she has pendant earrings.

The florist wears a pink bonnet and a gray striped dress with a white apron. She wears a black choker with a small pendant. The woman on the right wears a black hat with maroon, blue, and white plumes with bright blue ribbon. Her dress is black with three-quarter length sleeves. The yoke of the dress is in white lace, with a pleated white collar. Her sleeve cuffs are white lace ruffles, layered with black lace ruffles. Her underskirt has vertical white and black stripes, flared into a small train at the back. The overskirt is black gathered into poufs at the back and edged with black and white layered lace ruffles, at about knee length.

Next to the women is a small open armless chair, upholstered in blue and gold brocade.Visible on the front of the counter are two words, only part of each visible, “eurs,, probably fleurs, and the other “ouets.” One bouquet, wrapped in white paper, lies on the counter, and another is in the hands of the shopkeeper. There are a few green plants in pots as well.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges