French Fashions – Winter 1871

Two women are depicted in a library. The woman on the left reaches for a book on a middle shelf. She wears her hair in waves, with small green bows. Her gray dress has long bell sleeves and two tiers of overskirt. Each tier and her sleeves are edged in dark green ribbon and light green fringe. Green rosettes catch up the overskirts, and decorate the sleeves. The elaborate back detailing is typical of the bustle fashion. Her bodice ends with a v at the back of the peplum, and is also fringed. Her blouse has white lace ruffles and scalloped lace at the cuffs, which are wide bell sleeves. The woman on the right reads a book which lies on a table. She wears a small black hat with blue scalloped edges, blue steamers, and white lace and red flowers decorating the top. Her dress is blue and darker blue striped, with ruching trimming the hem. She wears a black mantelet with long bell sleeves and black detailing at the cuffs and hem.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges