Dress 1867

This image shows dresses made by Depret. The scene represents much more than just attractive and fashionable clothing. These dresses exemplify the art of high-end dressmaking during the 19th century. The style, materials and manufacture of these dresses are revealing of the wealth and social status of its wearer. The dresses have large skirts, which demanded a considerable amount of fabric, and denote the cultural ideals of femininity, modesty, and refinement during that era. They were often worn at formal social events, balls, and parties, and the colors signify sophistication, power, and wealth. As historians of art, we can use dress patterns, fashion magazines, and social documents to understand the significance of these dresses within the social, cultural and institutional contexts of the time. We see this clothing and wonder: who wore them, and how did they represent their place in the world?