French Fashions – Summer 1899

A woman is standing next to a wooden railing looking at a piece of paper that she is holding, possibly a racing form, as she seems to be attending the races. A group of people are milling about in the background as well as two jockeys on horses. They are standing next to a tall pole surmounted with a vertical circle. The woman is wearing a long sleeved mauve dress with a floral pattern. There are frills edging the wide collar, the hems of the sleeves, and a double row at the hem of the dress and the hem of her floor length sash. The bodice of the dress is cut to the waist to reveal her white lace, v neck blouse with folded lace descending down the center front. Her sash is deeper mauve satin, fastened with a circular silver clasp or brooch at the left front. She wears white gloves. She is wearing a straw hat with the side of the brim turned up and a mauve bow on the underside on the left. The hat is trimmed with two white plumes and a large mauve bow. She rests her right elbow on the railing to view the paper, and has her left hand on her hip.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges