… In the early Victorian era, it was a smooth and consistent evolution of line, shape, color, and texture (unlike some abrupt ones that would come such as “bustle; then no bustle”. The 1845 “V” in the front of the bodice was still there, as were the collars and undersleeves, but the “V” became deeper and was pleated at the bottom.
The shoulder dropped, and especially in evening wear, went below the shoulder.
(Portrait: 1847 evening gown with cat. Rich, saturated colors and the off the shoulder with the tight “V” waist marked the year.. plus note the artistry of the portrait accelerated world wide with the easier access to photography, as not everyone embraced the accuracy of the photo. Many women preferred to be painted as they wished they could be)