Browse Items (71 total)

Magasin des Demoiselles, April 1855 This French fashion plate illustrates a range of styles for children. The custom in Europe and America was to dress boys and girls alike during their first years of life. The adult woman, presumably the mother,…

Fashion plate, probably mid to late 1850s This fashion plate, although undated, provides clues to its time period through the silhouettes of the women’s dresses. By the 1850s, skirts had widened to a bell shape achieved through cartridge pleating at…

Graham’s Magazine, 1841 Graham’s Magazine was predominantly a literary magazine designed to appeal to both ladies and gentlemen. It included literature, music, and fashion. The 1841 volume featured a serialized version of Edgar Allan Poe’s Murders in…

Godey’s Lady’s Book, February, 1857 While this fashion plate in URI’s collection has been separated from its source, the captions for the identical plate are online at the University of Vermont. Titled “Costumes for a Bridal Reception,” the bride’s…

From Ackerman's Repository of ArtsJune 1, 1828This ball gown illustrates several features of 1820s fashion. The waistline is moving lower but the sleeves are getting puffier and the skirts are widening at the hem. Many gowns of this period have…

Costumes allemande et français 1835 This fashion plate shows two dresses with large sleeves, narrow waists, and full skirts. The figure in white, along with the detail, illustrate plumed bonnets. In contrast, the figure on the right is in mourning…

Crinolines The hoop skirt or cage crinoline describes a frame hoop undergarment that made skirts full and replaced numerous petticoats that were heavy and dragged on the ground. While lighter hoops were an improvement, they could also be dangerous by…

Published in the Court Magazine, No. 11, May 1833 by Edward Bull 26 Holles Street Cavendish Square This fashion plate, dated 1833, displays the popular “gigot” sleeve. This sleeve style creates the illusion of a narrow waist with the exaggeration of…

Evening Dresses, 1840s Although undated, this fashion plate shows styles appropriate for evening wear in the 1840s. All dresses follow the same silhouette, which has a smooth V-shape bodice, sloping shoulder, narrow waist, gathered skirt, and…