Spanish Fashions for a Family

Spanish fashions for a family, Winter 1890. La Moda Elegante Ilustrada.

Against the backdrop of a large family home and a stone balustrade, a mother and her five children in winter fashions for December 1890 show concern for the youngest girl who is crying. The first girl on the left wears an outfit of red and gray. Her red form-fitting princess seamed coat has a single smooth pleat down the front concealing the coat’s buttons. The collar and cuffs have two bands of gray fur. Two bands of gathered gray fur follow a v shape from the waist to the shoulder, mimicking the wings of a bird.

She wears a wide-brimmed red hat piled high with an abundance of red ribbon and a large gray bird. She wears black stockings, black heeled boots or shoes with gaiters, and gloves. She reaches toward her little sister who is in tears. The little girl wears an outfit of blue and white. Over a sapphire blue dress, she wears a long powder blue coat. The hem, sleeves, and lapels of the coat are made of blue and white striped material.

The coat is cinched with a wide blue belt and silver buckle. She wears matching blue shoes and a full, gathered blue beret with a black feather. Her blond hair is shoulder length and worn with bangs. The sister next to her wears an mid-calf length coat with a cape. The coat is made of a diagonally-patterned wool in gray, brown, and blue. It has a double row of large buttons and a stand-up collar.

She wears black stockings, black boots, and a gray hat with gray bows and a black ostrich feather. Her shoulder-length blond hair is worn loose with bangs. The children’s mother stands in the center wearing a long tan dress with dark brown scroll accents. The high collar, cuffs, waist, and bodice yoke are embroidered or appliqued with scrolling, as well as the hem of the skirt. The “leg-of-mutton” sleeves of the dress are snug at the forearm and puffed at the shoulders. She wears yellow gloves, black boots, and a wide brimmed hat trimmed with black fur edging and ostrich feathers. Her hair is dressed to the back above her shoulders, and she wears bangs.

The next two children gesture toward their unhappy sibling. The girl in green wears a white collared blouse with a black tie, a tan sash or belt, and a short green jacket with a curved center front. The cuffs and front edges of the jacket are trimmed with a double line of narrow black braid. She wears a knee-length wool pleated skirt in green, white, and brown plaid on the diagonal. Black and gray boots, tan gloves, and a green full gathered beret complete her outfit.

The child on the right is a young boy. He wears a camel-colored wool knee-length coat. It has a smooth covered front closure and the collar is of brown fur. A short-crowned brown fur cap matches the collar. His hair is shoulder length. He carries a riding crop and wears black breeches, gray stockings, and gray buttoned boots.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges – Digital Library