This is a late 1860s/early 1870s gown. Note the longer skirt back and the bodice trimming with its squared yoke. The lady’s hairstyle is very interesting–showing how women were moving away from the low, flat styles of the Civil War and into hairstyles that piled everything on top.

What a dress! This is definitely attention-getting. I’d place this around the end of the 1860s or early 1870s, since the lady’s hairstyle is up on top of her head with cascading curls and because the trim on this gown is more typical of that time period. The dress must be a walking outfit, since [...]

These photographs depict two different women wearing the exact same outfit and posing in the same studio. A photo archivist from New York City confirmed to me that studios kept clothing on hand for clients who wanted to “dress up” for their portraits!

These three photographs were taken by the same photagrapher in the 1860s. On the far left is a young girl, probably just entering her teen years. Note that her bodice is fan-pleated and not as fitted as a grown-up lady’s would be. In the center is a seated lady wearing a tartan printed skirt and [...]

Here is a young lady who was also photographed in San Francisco. Her dark dress is accented by white or colored buttons down the front, a white collar and a large brooch at the neck. She is also wearing a belt with belt buckle. Probably early-to-mid-1860s.

Here is a woman who was photographed in San Francisco around the middle 1860s. It is difficult to make a guess at her age. While she looks older, it could just be premature aging due to the fact that she has already lost some teeth (note her sunken cheeks and drooping mouth). Her dress appears [...]

This lady is wearing a striking outfit of the mid-to-late 1860s. The Garibaldi blouse with its full sleeves is covered by a “waist,” a corset-like vest that emphasizes the wearer’s waistline. The skirt features ruffled flounces. I think the full sleeves are flattering and feminine and just wish the photo hadn’t been overexposed, so we [...]

This is my great-great-great-great-grandmother, Mary Foster Ethell. The photograph for her CDV was taken in Cumberland, Ohio, during the 1860s. I wish the top part of the photo had not been smudged, since it makes her face hazy. Note the tasseled belt at her waist and the bolo-style tie at her neckline. I believe she [...]

This woman is wearing a dress with gently gathered (rather than fitted) bodice. The front buttons are decorative. She appears to be wearing a snood.

This photograph was probably taken in the mid-to-late 1860s. Note the Garibaldi blouse with the Zouave jacket over top. The skirt is not as full as those in the early 1860s. I love the simple trimming of the skirt.