Fashion Plate - Costumes allemande et francais, 1835

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 attire. Dress, shoes, gloves, and stockings --- all are black and undecorated. The necklace is made of black jet and the veil of mourning crape. Mourning practices in the nineteenth century required widows to wear deep mourning for a year and a day. Widows would be expected to wear black with crape trim for an additional period of time.

 At one time this fashion plate was glued to a cardboard backing. Unfortunately, the glue has permanently discolored the paper.