- Image 7
Everything
about this young woman speaks of opulence and smart fashion sense.
She looks as if she might have just stepped out of a Godey's Fashion
Plate. Her bonnet is impeccably trimmed, with elegant wide ties most
likely silk. Her one piece dress is almost completely hidden
underneath the coat or paletot she wears. About the only thing we can
tell about the dress is that it has a front opening, and is very full
over her cage crinoline. The skirt strikes just at floor level. The
coat is cut quite full so that it too drapes beautifully over the
cage. It is richly trimmed in what appears to be soutache braid. She
wears kid gloves. Her hair is well groomed underneath the bonnet.
The backmark on the image reads New York.
It is not likely this woman has ever known hard work having servants
to cook, do laundry, and keep house. She may have even had a
governess for her children. Judging from the opulence of her dress
she has the means to an unstressful life.
Her husband
may have owned a shipping company or freight line, been a bank
president, a physician, an attorney or some other professional. He
clearly was able to provide his wife with the most elegant of fashion.