Fashion Plate - Fashions for September, 1858

Fashions for September, Frank Leslie’s Family Magazine, 1858

Frank Leslie, an Englishman who emigrated to New York City in 1848, published numerous illustrated newspapers and magazines over the course of his career. This image is from the family magazine he started in 1857.  The figure on the left displays a daytime ensemble with pagoda sleeves and a ruffled skirt. Her bonnet sits back on her head, allowing decorations on the inside of the brim to frame her face. The evening dress on the right is purple colored. Purple, or “mauve,” had just been synthesized by William Perkin in 1856 and the color ushered in the vibrant hues associated with early aniline dyes.