French Fashions – Summer 1857

Victorian Promenade Gowns and Mid-Nineteenth Century Crinolines

This antique hand-colored fashion plate from the French publication Le Moniteur de la Mode displays elegant outdoor promenade styles from the mid-nineteenth century. The woman on the left wears a voluminous white crinoline dress decorated with a dark ribbon sash and a draped white lace shawl. Beside her, the second figure models a rich violet or purple day gown featuring tiered ruffles, black lace trim, and a yellow bonnet tied under the chin.

Historical Parisian Haute Couture Prints and Spanish Distribution

The detailed engraving by artist Jules David includes the header El Correo de la Moda, highlighting early international fashion journalism distribution in Spain. The text at the bottom provides historical information about Parisian dressmakers located on Rue Richelieu, alongside distribution offices in London, New York, and Madrid. An outdoor setting with a wrought iron garden chair and a soft landscape backdrop completes this authentic nineteenth-century scene.