Paris Fashions For May

Paris fashions for May, 1868. 'Fig. 1. Toilette de promenade...of violet-coloured taffeta; the jupe ornamented at the lower part with large bows and fringed lappets...The high corsage is accompanied by a cape, trimmed with a silk fringe, and ornamented behind with a small, pointed hood...This cape is fastened to the waist at the back with a large bow...The chapeau Manola in black straw is almost flat at the top, and is trimmed with a single rose, and a large veil of black tulle which covers the back of the chapeau...Fig. 2. Toilette de promenade of grey poult-de-soie...trimmed with a triple biais of blue taffeta...The paletot is made with long rounded lappets in front,...ornamented with a silk fringe...The chapeau fanchon is of white blonde, trimmed with a diadem of blue flowers...Fig. 3. Toilette de soirée...in green tissu de Yeddo, with an upper skirt of rich black lace...behind there is a series of basques of the same material as the robe, embroidered over with bouquets of flowers and bordered with ruches of green taffeta. Fig. 4. Robe in "capuchin "-coloured taffeta ornamented with a deep ruche. Paletot Marie Antoinette...trimmed with jet beads and lace...Chapeau ornamented with a diadem of flowers, and having lace strings and veil'. From "Illustrated London News", 1868. Creator: Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)