.. in quality and how well a woman could mark her status. The silhouette was dictated by young Victoria, but the personality was added by the individual.
(Photos: Left, 1860’s maid; Right, Fanny Fern, American humorist and novelist in the mid 1850’s obviously is poking fun at high fashion with her almost cartoon-like sleeves, trim, and caricature of a dignified lady’s pose)