French Fashions – Summer 1855

Two women are depicted standing at a balustrade overlooking a harbor with many large ships. The woman on the right stands facing away. She wears a white bonnet with a ruffle and pink flowers on either side. Her dress is vivid light blue with a wide white lace collar and elbow length sleeves. There are three tiers edged with fringed scallops on her skirt, with small darker blue bows at the top of each scallop. The woman standing on the right wears her hair swept back into a curled bun adorned with purple ribbon. Her dress has wide purple and gold vertical stripes with elbow length puffed and gathered sleeves, with lace ruffles underneath. The bodice is heavily trimmed with layers of white lace on the neck, sleeves, and the hem of the peplum.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges