Civil War-era dresses for women (1861-1867)

Civil war dresses - Colored fashion plates from 1862 (2)

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The 1860s were a time of great conflict and stress, but that didn’t mean that formal Civil War-era dresses were suddenly less extravagant. As you can see here, they were anything but — with yards of fine fabrics, lace and ribbon adornments.

Antique Civil War dress (1861)

Antique Civil War dresses from 1861 (2)


Colored fashion plates of several Civil War dresses (1863)

Civil war dresses - Colored fashion plates from 1863 (1)


Ruffled Civil War dress with bows (1861)

Antique Civil War dresses from 1861 (3)


The Mariana (1862)

Civil War-era dresses - Antique fashion from 1862 (3)


The Francesca (1862)

Civil War-era dresses - Antique fashion from 1862 (4)


Civil War lace dress (1861)

Antique Civil War dresses from 1861 (4)


Colored fashion plates featuring 3 women in Civil War dresses (1862)

Civil war dresses - Colored fashion plates from 1862 (4)


Women sitting in a Civil War dress (1861)

Antique Civil War dresses from 1861 (5)


Colored fashion plates of Civil war dresses (1861)

Civil war dresses - Colored fashion plates from 1861 (2)


The Clarenda (1862)

Organdie skirt. Fancy Zouave, braided with black, and trimmed with black lace. White silk vest.

antique-dress-designs-1862-godeys-ladys-book (2)


The Almerian (1862)

This style, made of heavy black silk, is among the most beautiful novelties of the spring mantillas. No description is required, as its mode is fully explained by the illustration.

antique-dress-designs-1862-godeys-ladys-book (1)


Colored fashion plate featuring several types of Civil war dresses (1862)

Civil war dresses - Colored fashion plates from 1862 (3)


The Phoebus (1862)

This wrap is of black cloth, trimmed with crochet passementerie.

antique-dress-designs-1862-godeys-ladys-book (4)


The Albertina Dress (1862)

Watering-place dress, made of Satin de Mai. White ground, with linked rings of porcelain blue. Four flounces are on the skirt, and the front is made en tablier, with the flounces extending to the waist; the edges of the flounces are concealed by a puffing. Fancy lace fichu. Rice straw hat, trimmed with black velvet and blue ribbon.

antique-dress-designs-1862-godeys-ladys-book (6)


The Alice Maud Dress (1862)

Grisaille dress, which is a mixed gray material, made with a box-plaited trimming, extending round and up the front of the skirt, and forming lapels on the front of the body and a bertha at the back. Mantle of the same material, trimmed with black velvet and box plaiting. Gray straw hat, trimmed with black velvet and roses.

antique-dress-designs-1862-godeys-ladys-book (7)


The Jenny Dress (1862)

Sprigged grenadine dress, with four flounces on the skirt, bound and headed with black velvet. Pompadour waist, trimmed to match the skirt. Coiffure of gold cord and black velvet.

antique-dress-designs-1862-godeys-ladys-book (3)


Civil war dresses – Colored fashion plates from 1861

Civil war dresses - Colored fashion plates from 1861 (1)


The Richelieu (1862)

This cloak is made of black velvet, trimmed with white silk, cross barred with narrow velvet, and finished with a rich crochet passementerie.

antique-dress-designs-1862-godeys-ladys-book (5)


The Bajados (1862)

We illustrate a very pleasing variety of the sack shapes. It can be made of several light summer fabrics. The one [below] represents a white brilliant, with an edging of rose-colored silk.

Civil War-era dresses - Antique fashion from 1862 (1)


Colored fashion plate with 2 Civil war dresses (1862)

Civil war dresses - Colored fashion plates from 1862 (1)


The Caroline (1862)

Civil War-era dresses - Antique fashion from 1862 (5)


Colored fashion plate with black and blue Civil War dresses (1863)

Civil war dresses - Colored fashion plates from 1863 (2)


The Eugenie (1862)

Civil War-era dresses - Antique fashion from 1862 (6)


Matilda — Walking dress (1862)

Civil War-era dresses - Antique fashion from 1862 (7)


Gored dress, trimmed en Zouave (1862)

Civil War-era dresses - Antique fashion from 1862 (8)


The Monaceda (1861)

We commence in this issue to present the styles which await the favor of our friends. There is in this mode an elegance and a simplicity that will render it a great favorite. The material is black silk, with passementerie of great beauty. 

Antique Civil War dresses from 1861 (1)


Two ladies in Civil War-era dresses (1862)

Civil War-era dresses - Antique fashion from 1862 (2)


Post-Civil War, Reconstruction-era dresses

Here are some of the high fashion gowns and dresses from 1867, as illustrated by one of the top authorities of the day, Godey’s Lady’s Book magazine.

Post-Civil War, Reconstruction-era dresses 1867 (1)

Post-Civil War, Reconstruction-era dresses 1867 (2)

Post-Civil War, Reconstruction-era dresses 1867 (3)

MORE FASHION FOR WOMEN FROM AROUND THE CIVIL WAR

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