French Fashions – Summer 1857

Two women are depicted outside. The woman on the left wears her hair up and decorated with black ribbon. Her white dress has small black polka dots and has a v-neck and wide lapels. She has long full sleeves with black bows at the wrists. At her waist is a black ribbon tied into a bow. Down the sides of her skirt are a series of small black bows. She wears a cross on her necklace and carries a fan. The woman on the left wears a yellow bonnet with pink flowers and yellow ribbons. Her purple dress has elbow length bell sleeves. She wears a white blouse with full sleeves and a lace collar. Her bodice buttons down the front. Along her skirt and sleeves are triple rows of narrow black lace ruffles in zigzags. She sets a black lace shawl on the bench next to her. Behind the women is a vista of a lake and trees.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges