… of 1850. You thought we had forgotten?? This cat is with a woman who is NOT wearing the flounces and frills of the era. She is most likely a Quaker, or other religious sect, although it would be rare for a Quaker to pose for an elaborate portrait like this.
The point is – while the predominant fashion was tiers and large skirts and delicate fabrics with shirrings, pointy waistlines, and tight corsets – we must not forget that not EVERY woman in the world followed fashion.
The Reformers, Aesthetics, Pre-Raphaelites we have discussed before prevailed throughout the entire Victorian Era. They wore less ornament, lovelier fabrics with draping, and more basic silhouettes.
We still suspect that’s a really BIG skirt under that cat though…!