Daguerreotype of a Young Girl, ca. 1850

The faded subject of this photograph is a young girl. At the time, girls generally wore the same styles as adult women, with the differences being in skirt length and one or two clothing items marking their youth. This girl’s outfit consists of a printed dress with pantalettes. The bodice has a fan front and round neckline edged with a white frill. Round necklines were the most common shape in this period. The fan front forms a V-shape that draws attention to the narrow waistline. The narrow waist was attained through tightly laced corsets, to which even young girls were not immune. Softer cotton corsets were used to maintain the fashionable shape of their adult counterparts. The sleeves are fitted to the elbow and her forearms are covered by white lace mitts. According to Dressed for the Photographer, photographs show very young girls wearing mitts.

The girl’s skirt is full, reflecting the wide skirts women wore that necessitated multiple petticoats to maintain their shape. Her skirt is cut short to reveal the pantalettes, an important feature of her outfit because they provide a clue to her age. Pantalettes were worn by girls from the age of five to thirteen. Bodice styles could also give an idea of age since fashionable bodice styles worn by women were imitated in girls’ clothing starting at age eight. Underneath her pantalettes she wears white stockings, and simple lace-up shoes complete her outfit. Her hair is parted and pulled to the back.

References

Joan Severa, Dressed for the Photographer: Ordinary Americans and Fashion, 1840-1900. Kent, OH: Kent State University Press, 1995.