Two Gentleman and a Lady – Summer 1855

1850s Mid-Victorian Fashion Plate from Gentleman’s Magazine

This authentic hand-colored fashion engraving, dated June 1855 (Plate No. 2), comes from the esteemed British periodical The Gentleman’s Magazine of Fashion. The antique print features an elegant trio—a high-society lady and two refined gentlemen—conversing outdoors along a stone terrace overlooking lush garden foliage and a grand neoclassical mansion background. Capturing the peak of mid-19th-century European couture, this collectible plate serves as a vital historical record of the rigid social etiquette, tailored outerwear, and gender-specific dress codes that defined the wealthy Victorian upper class.

Victorian Riding Habits, Men’s Evening Dress, and Summer Frock Coats

The detailed historical composition showcases diverse seasonal wardrobes, prominently featuring a woman in a structured navy-blue wool riding habit (amazonian costume) with a fitted bodice, long pleated skirt, and an elaborate dark feathered hat. Standing beside her, the central gentleman models formal evening attire, including a black swallowtail dress coat, a crisp white waistcoat, matching black trousers, and a black silk hat. To the right, the third figure displays daytime elegance in a grey double-breasted frock coat layered over a patterned waistcoat, immaculate white trousers, a bright blue bow cravat, and a polished tall top hat.