Fashions from Godey's Lady's Book, March 1853

It's that time again!  As we mentioned in the first post in this series, we recently stumbled across a bound volume of Godey's Lady's Book from 1853. Once a month, I'll post the collection of fashion-related plates and articles that appeared in each monthly issue.  You can find the previous months here.

I apologize in advance for the quality of the images. Although I have a scanner, I've discovered that there's no way I can preserve the integrity of the already fragile binding of the book and lay it flat. That means photos are the only options, and even those are difficult to achieve because of the tightly bound pages. I've done my best to ensure that everything is as clear and visible and undistorted as possible, but if there's something you really can't read or see and would like to have clarified, just let me know and I'll see what more I can do. I've set the images up so that if you click on them, they'll link you to their flickr page, where you'll be able to enlarge them all considerably and thus more easily read each one. Enjoy!

 

"Fig. 1st. - Walking-dress of pale fawn-colored mousseline, trimmed with buttons in clusters, or rather clustering rows, down the skirt, upon the corsage and sleeves.  Deep lace ruffles falling over the hand.  Drawn bonnet, of white silk and lace.

 

Fig. 2d. - Walking-dress of steel-colored Cashmere, the skirt trimmed with rows of black velvet ribbon, nearly a foot in depth.  The corsage is arranged in the same style, as will be seen from the demi-loose sleeve.  A small mantle of the same description covers the shoulders, the front being profusely ornamented.  Bonnet of black satin mixed with lace, and purple satin bows.  Noeuds of the same inside the brim." 

 

"Fig. 1st. - Dinner-dress of plaid soie, in imitation of a tartan: broad sash of ribbon to correspond.  Low corsage, and berthe capes: hair in heavy ringlets.

 

Fig. 2d. - Dress of mode-colored silk, suitable for a matron; cape of French embroidery; headdress of velvet and gold lace.

 

Fig. 3d. - Dress of blue brocade, with low corsage and demi long sleeves, covered by a lace canezou.  Headdress of lace and ribbon.

 

Fig. 4th. - Dress of sea-green poult de soie; the corsage and skirt trimmed with ruches of the same en V.  Chemisette of Honiton lace in points.  Hair in heavy Grecian bands."

The pattern for a "Parisian purse."

 

Chemisettes and capes (see full description below)

 

"Fig. 1st. - As many ladies who, for convenience or lightness of dress, wear low corsages in the evening, do not like to leave the neck entirely exposed, we give a new style, or rather form, of pelerine, in embroidered muslin, the edges waved or scalloped, so as to give a glimpse of the figure from the throat to the waist.  There is a very style style edged with Valenciennes instead of the worked points.  The collar to be fastened by a knot of some bight-colored satin ribbon, suiting or contrasting with the wearer's dress or complexion.

 

Fig. 2d. - A cambric basque, intended for a breakfast dress, with some pretty skirt.  It will be found a convenient fashion to use up those that have had the waists condemned as too much worn.  It is made quite plainly, with edges and chemisette of cambric flouncing, and may be sent to the common wash."

 

Pattern for an appliqued lady's cravate.

 

"Braiding - coral pattern for white muslin dress" to decorate the

flounces (see description below)

 

"To be braided with fine scarlet worsted braid; copy the design on tissue paper, tack the paper pattern on material, sew on the braid by the pattern, then teat away the paper carefully."

 

Braid patterns for aprons and an embroidery pattern

for a muslin chemisette or undersleeves.

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