19th Century Western Costume: Hoop Era (1850 to 1870)

Part 1 1850-1855

Skip ahead to part 2 1855-1860, part 3 1860-1865, or part 4 1865-1870

  girl in a "Jockey cap", 1850's

Early Victorian Costumes Paper Dolls (History of Costume Series)

Back view of pink cashmere Peignoir of 1850

1850

Fashions from the Moniteur de la Mode, c. 1850-5:

Shirts & Men's Haberdashery : 1840s to 1920s

Southern Belles Paper Dolls in Full Color

  Plate From Godey's Lady's Book, c. 1850 of a flower seller. Image courtesy of Aquarian Gallery Antique Prints and Maps

  "Le Follet" Illustration in Graham's Magazine, 1850.  Image courtesy of Aquarian Gallery Antique Prints and Maps 

Fashions of the Old South Paper Dolls in Full Color

Basque of 1850, made of pink silk with a chine stripe of roses, trimmed with pinks and white fringe and bows of ribbon to match.

  Russian extra-small seed bead embroidered purse, c. 1850, in the Cameron Gallery.

Fashion plates of 1851

Bridal Fashions Victorian Era

Four gentlemen's waistcoats from the catalog of the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851:

"In conformity with our plan of representing every meritorious producer of articles which exhibit improvements derived from the influence of art, we introduce upon this and the succeeding column four examples of the embroidered waistcoats contributed by Mr. J. W. GABRIEL,of London. The first two are worked in gold on rich silk and are designed mainly for court dresses; the other two are wrought in silk upon black cloth: the ornamentation is derived principally from natural flowers. The style of modern male attire affords little opportunity for the embroiderer and ornamentist to display their skill; the only garment which admits of the least approach to elegance being the vest; and even this is generally discarded by persons of good taste. In the patterns here engraved, however, we see much that is truly graceful." --The Art Journal Special Issue on The Crystal Palace Exhibition, 1851

1851, Mrs Bloomer in the costume she adopted as a response to the restrictive petticoats of the 1840's-50's

1852-1853 Women's Fashion Plates from the Iris

The Complete Guide to Practical Cutting (1853/2 Volumes in 1)

1853 portrait of Suffragist and Reformer Lucy Stone as she appeared giving a lecture  in a "bloomer" suit. Image courtesy of Aquarian Gallery Antique Prints and Maps

Brown & pink taffeta dress, 1853 from Karl Kohler's Kostumewerk

'New Raiments of Self' : African American Clothing in the Antebellum South (Dress, Body, Culture Series)

Fashion Plates of 1853

Second Empire Fashion plates from Petit Courier des Dames 1852-5 provided by Acarter of eBay

December 1854

Man in frock coat with plaid vest, 1855. from Karl Kohler's Kostumewerk

Victorian Debutante Paper Doll

Graham's Magazine Sept 1855. Image courtesy of Aquarian Gallery Antique Prints and Maps

Hoopskirt of steel wire and webbing worn in Philadelphia in 1855.

• Recommended 19th Century Costume Books 
• Victorian Laces
• 19th Century Costumes from the Victoria and Albert Museum as seen in "Old English Costumes" c.1908
  • Part 2 1830-1880
• Photos of some 19th Century Fans
• 19th Century Women's Undergarments
• Dress of the 1850's
• 19th Century French Costume Designs for the Plays of Moliere

• 19th Century Theatrical Costumes

Victorian Costume Links

go on to part 2 1855-1860

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This Page is part of The Costumer's Manifesto by Tara Maginnis, Ph.D.  Copyright 1996-2010.   You may print out any of these pages for non-profit educational use such as school papers, teacher handouts, or wall displays.  You may link to any page in my site.