Music Hall performer
This is Lottie Collins, a music hall performer, in 1892. Obviously, she's wearing a corset.
Charles F. Worth design
This is a dress made by the "Father of Haute Couture," Charles Frederick Worth, in 1888 for a woman being presented at the Russian Court. The overlay is green velvet and the dress and embroidery are silver.
Alice Vanderbilt
Another Charles Worth design in the late 1800's.
Godey's Magazine, December 1861
Godey's showed women what was fashionable. They then copied the designs.
Circa 1865, this woman wrote on the back of the photo that her dress was "blue, very blue"!
Details!
As you may see by now, 1800's dressing was all about the details and the fabric.
Princess Elisabeth of Saxony
Royals' dresses were a little fancier, but you see the same basic style.
President Woodrow Wilson’s wife, 1887
This is probably from the 1860's or '70's.
1899 - big sleeves, less skirt
All those embellishments!
Provocative for her day
Born in the 1790's, she followed 1800's fashion
Don't forget the boys
Little boy fashion in 1888
Small waists
Yes, corsets were a staple of everyday life
Work clothes
This is a nanny (or "nurse") with her charge in 1869
House of Worth, 1860's
Great fabric
Look at the original, you can see the luxury of the fabric.
A bustle, a corset . . .
And the flow of this dress is great! Circa 1860's England.
How many yards of material?
It looks like this circa 1870's dress took many yards of material! (Compared to the one yard (?) in today's clothes.)
Modest Scotland
She looks to be following the fashion of Queen Victoria after Prince Albert died in 1861.
Mom & daughter
As you can see, the basic dress wasn't that different between Moms and daughters. The daughter has a bigger bow, a more sprightly material . . .
The photo is old (probably 1850's) but look closely - the detail on their dresses is wonderful.
1897 - the latest in hats
English beach dressing
Remember: It's not the warm Riviera!
Mid-1800's traveling clothes
So much clothing!
This 54 yr old woman, in 1859, must have been exercising every time she moved.
Showing off the bustle
1895 dresses, Norway
Now the shoulders are fancy.