published in Paris
This hand-coloured fashion plate is from La Mode Illustreé, a fashion magazine published in Paris. Dating from 1881, the plate illustrates two evening dresses. It is signed, 'R' and 'Anaïs Toudouze'.
The dress on the right has a train. By 1880, dresses were still tied-back, but trains were mostly reserved for evening dresses such as this example. The lady on the left carries a fan.
Fans remained popular throughout the late Victorian period. They could be concealed in the ample skirts, so there was no need for a handbag. The 1890s saw trends for ostrich-feather fans, black lace fans and hand-painted gauze fans.
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