French Fashions – Summer 1902

A woman in three-quarter view stands with her hand resting on the curved back rail of a garden bench. She models the French fashions of the Madames Guermont and Bonnefoy of rue de Provence, 67, in Paris. She wears a high-collared white blouse with a suit of white patterned in an overall diamond pattern, with pink and pale blue flowers in each diamond, and borders setting each one off. The blouse has lace forming the collar, and a upturned diamond lace motif at the front waist edge.

The blouse is gathered softly at the front in the characteristic pouter pigeon silhouette. The waist has more hanging lace diamonds that reach onto the skirt under the belt. The blouse has elbow length sleeves with ruffles at the elbows. Over the blouse she has a short, waist-length jacket with curved lapels. The body of the jacket, the upper sections of the sleeves, and the bell hems of the sleeves that flare out to a zigzag hem have each diamond trimmed with narrow black lines and alternating diamonds cut away, showing the blouse beneath. The front of the jacket is connected by a band of three diamonds. The matching skirt flares out at the hem into a trumpet shape. At the hem of the skirt two rows of larger four diamond sections are cut away and trimmed in black, creating a zigzag hem showing a very full lacy white underskirt.

Pink rose motifs adorn each point of the hem and each place the bands cross. At the waist is a black belt with a silver clasp at the front. To complete the outfit she wears long white gloves. Her low crowned green hat is adorned with red berries and dark ribbons. She carries an opened pink parasol, also with a diamond motif, ruffles at the hem, and a black bow on the handle. In the background stands a classical urn on a pedestal with climbing plants and flowers surrounding the base.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges