French Fashions – Winter 1884

A woman is wearing a long-sleeved brown dress. The bodice reaches just below her waist, and has multiple ruffles of cream lace at the neckline, the center front, the wrists, and the hem. The fabric is plain brown with a faint narrow self stripe The sleeves have a small leg o’ mutton puffing at the shoulder. There is a brown bow at the bust, princess seaming, and stiched detailing at the cuffs above the lace. The skirt has two elaborate tiers at the front, with poufed brown satin, bows, and a wide lace ruffle in each tier, above a narrow band of knife pleating at the hem. The back is plain of fabric that matches the bodice. She wears tan gloves, and holds a pair of binoculars. She wears a small brimmed brown bonnet decorated with plumes in cream, brown and pink that is tied under her chin with a brown satin ribbon.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges