French Fashions – Autumn 1863

Two women are standing outside on a terrace overlooking the countryside. The woman on the left wears her hair pulled back in waves with a black lace cap. Her white dress has a narrow white lace collar, long sleeves and a pointed waistline. Her dress is decorated with burnt orange accents. There is an orange bow at her neck. There are orange lines outlining a wide square collar and short sleeves. There are also lattice diamond patterns on her sleeves, waist, down her skirt, and around the hem. Hanging from these are orange balls, like bobble fringe. Her dress also has an hourglass shaped design of three orange edged pleats alternating with the diamond shapes. She holds a handkerchief in her right hand. The woman on the right wears a deep blue bonnet with white ribbon. Her dress is gray with wide black lace along the hem. She covers her dress with a matching blue coat with long bell sleeves. The coat has black lace around the bottom and on the sleeves. Both skirts are very wide; it is the height of the crinoline fashion. To the side of the women is a large stone urn and in the distance is a building with a tower.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges