French Fashions – Summer 1846

1840s Victorian Evening Wear and Elegant Ball Gowns

This August 1846 French fashion plate from the antique publication Petit Courrier des Dames highlights luxury evening wear from the early Victorian period. The standing figure models a voluminous yellow silk gown adorned with central lace panels, bows, and an off-the-shoulder neckline. Seated beside her, the second woman wears an elaborate white tarlatan dress decorated with multi-layered lace ruffles and a vibrant red bow.

Historical Parisian Hairstyles and Nineteenth-Century Textile Details

The hand-colored engraving showcases intricate nineteenth-century textile craftsmanship alongside popular formal hairstyles featuring decorative floral headpieces and ringlets. The French text at the bottom provides specific descriptions of the garments, mentioning prominent dressmakers located on the Boulevard des Italiens. A subtle interior setting with blue velvet upholstered chairs completes this authentic historical representation of mid-nineteenth-century elite fashion.