.. was worn by young girls to old women, but of course modified to suit their station or status. Since the upper and middle classes posed for portraits, we can assume in the photos of the 1840’s and 1850’s, that they are dressed in their best. Young girls emulated the same demure look of their mothers, with the pointed waist, large sleeves, and collar.
For dress or evening wear, the collar and inset (aka fake “blouse” or chemisette) was left off and the should of the gown dropped further off the shoulder, leaving the neck exposed. This change in shoulder and sleeve was the start of the next stage of high early Victorian fashion.