Womenswear

A fashion article from Graham’s Magazine ponders whether the fashions of the year 1855 have evolved as dramatically as other magazines, such as the Moniteur de la mode, might like readers to believe, asking:

“Have the fashions changed? That is the question. Have they had time in Paris, in the midst of the grand military reviews and preparations – in the midst of changes in helmets and uniforms – to issue orders and proclamations concerning the fashions, and to compose and conceive new bonnets and new cloaks? Fortunately, the Parisians have an Empress as well as an Emperor, and she rules over the fashions, or the graces, as one of her subjects would say, not only with the scepter of imperial power, but with the despotic rule of a pretty woman.” (95)

The concept of the “pretty woman” is one of great importance, as reflected in the elaborately feminine fashions of the year. In an 1855 fashion column from Graham’s Magazine, it is explained that:

“Dress this season is most costly, perhaps never was more so; for, in addition to the richness of the materials employed, the quantity and expense of the trimmings, without which a dress cannot be made, render the winter prospects very appalling for the papas’ and husbands’ purses.” (95)

The ornate taste that had been cultivated for womenswear called for nearly every trimming possible to be added to the flounces, sleeves, and basques of garments, from frosted leather fringe to velvet ribbons to embroidery. According to a review of winter fashion from Godey’s Magazine, “evening dresses have the flounces edged with several rows of the narrowest width of black velvet ribbon” (94).

Sleeves were often trimmed to correspond with the flounce decorations, and velvet ribbon was a very popular choice for winter adornments as well as garments. In regards to the excessive use of ribbons, Godey’s Magazine writes, “Never was there a season when ribbons were more in use for dresses, mantles, even chemisettes, and undersleeves” (288). The magazine also declares that “Any young, or for that matter, elderly lady, so disposed, may easily ruin herself in ribbons; never were they so much in demand” (191).

Expensive furs were used to trim garments worn in the colder months, both as an accessory to border velvet cloaks as well as to create striped dimension on dresses, like Godey’s Magazine describes: “The fur is cut into wide strips and placed round the skirt – each strip gradually decreasing in width as it reaches the waist” (95). Dark furs, such as beaver, as opposed to the now antiquated ermine, were mainly used, as they were considered more attractive.

As for street dresses during the colder months, brightly colored tartan plaid was fashionable as shown by figure 1, either comprising the entire dress or used as a border for plain-colored frocks. Wide stripes were also a popular pattern for day dresses, as shown in figure 2. However, the tartan plaid day dresses were the most boldly colored garments for the season, as a majority of fashion plates showcased dresses that were shades of deep green, maroon, brown, black, and gray.

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s the weather grew more favorable, fabrics of both lighter weight and color rose into fashion, and dresses of summer silks and delicate, yet eye-catching, colors were popular, as shown in the yellow gown in figure 3. As explained by the Moniteur de la mode, “the furred cloak is laid aside for the scarf or small cape of embroidered velvet,” often decorated with a deep guipure (49). In the warmer weather, women also carried decorated parasols to protect themselves from the sun in order to keep their skin fashionably pale. According to Peterson’s Magazine:

“For the more elegant kinds used for the carriage, bows and ends of ribbon supply the place of tassels. The large parasols of chintz muslin with ample flounces of the same are indispensable for the country. Some fashionable ladies carry parasols made of foulard chintz patterns, and having a border edged with a very narrow fringe. These are very graceful and truly elegant.” (444)

Besides the variance in material used, as well as accompanying accessories such as parasols and bonnets, which were comprised of varying types of straw, tulle, blonde, ribbon, and flowers for the spring and summer, silhouettes for dresses in all seasons remained relatively similar. For day dresses, puffed sleeves that came to a closure at the wrist were the general silhouette, though some puffed sleeves were slashed to reveal the undersleeves, which were often embroidered. Day dresses generally had higher neckline, showcasing buttons from the waist to the throat, which can be seen in figure 4.

As for the general silhouette, skirts were growing more circular again, causing Graham’s Magazine to write, “Hoops appear to come into fashion again – for some of the skirts of the dresses in Paris have a very thin whalebone inserted in the hem” (96). Whalebone hems or not, a very large crinoline was popular. For nearly all seasons throughout the year, mantles, shawls, and scarves were tastefully comprised of varying types of white or black lace. As Harper’s Magazine states, “For mantillas, laces are extremely fashionable… they appear to admirable advantage when worn over appropriate colors – such, for instance, as lavender or pea green” (432). Judging from the above overview of the fashion for the year, it appears evident that “immense use of crinoline” was popular to make skirts very full, as explained by Godey’s Magazine (192). Numerous flounces of both the actual skirt and the underskirt were fashionable as well, adding even more volume to a lady’s dress, exemplified in figure 5.

For evening gowns, short pagoda sleeves or short puffed sleeves closed at the upper arm with a band of lace or ribbon. Waists generally ended in a point at the center front of the gown, as shown in figure 6. Ball gowns for those partaking in dancing were made of light weight luxurious silks and satins, regardless of the weather so as to be breathable for the wearer. Necklines typically skimmed the shoulders and were cut in a V-shape, as shown in figures 7 and 8.