Hats and Hairstyles – Spring 1894

Late 19th-Century French Millinery and Hairstyle Illustration

This rare 1894 antique fashion plate from the French periodical “La Saison” captures the complex elegance of late Victorian women’s millinery and grooming. The detailed lithograph showcases ten distinct female figures from the waist up, highlighting the meticulous social etiquette, high-society hairstyles, and sophisticated French garment styles popular during the Belle Époque era.

Victorian Women’s Hats and Belle Époque Fashion Trends

The vintage print emphasizes the transition of 1890s fashion, detailing structured high-collared jackets with leg-o’-mutton sleeves alongside elaborate headwear. The figures display a rich variety of straw hats, feathered bonnets, lace caps, and complex braided buns, all finely adorned with ribbons, flora, and veils that defined elite feminine styling of the late 19th century.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges