What time period is this dress?

emotpix

emotpix

Registered Guest
Hi all, I love this site! Wondering if the vintage fashion experts out there might be able to tell me the year or decade this photo was taken based on the dress the woman on the porch is wearing. It appears to be before 1880, but curious if anyone can tell me more specifically based on what the woman is wearing. Many thanks!
VintageDress1880s.jpg
 
That's a tough one, but the fullness of the sleeve at the cap, the fitted waist with belt and the simplicity of the skirt look to me to be 1890 - 1891 or 1897 - 1900. It's not detailed enough for me to say much more. I don't think it's 1880s or earlier - the skirt is too slim and simple, and the sleeves are wrong. They'd be very slim at the cap.
 
pastperfect2 said:
That's a tough one, but the fullness of the sleeve at the cap, the fitted waist with belt and the simplicity of the skirt look to me to be 1890 - 1891 or 1897 - 1900. It's not detailed enough for me to say much more. I don't think it's 1880s or earlier - the skirt is too slim and simple, and the sleeves are wrong. They'd be very slim at the cap.
Click to expand...

Hollis, thank you so much for your fast response! I really appreciate it. A friend of mine gave me this picture of my house, and we knew if must have been before 1900, but weren't sure, this helps. Thank you again!
 
Hello,

Are you sure that is a woman? I see a headdress that looks a lot like a woman's mourning toque hat, with a black scarf or veil thrown over 1 shoulder. On closer inspection I think I see a mustache? The headdress or hat is either woman's mourning piece, or it is a man in his ethnic home country garb and a turban. It could be a woman and the veil is wafting across her face from a breeze or wind, creating a dark patch in what looks like a moustache.
 
I think it's just that there is a little motion blur in the picture, which is creating that effect on the face. With the technology at this time, photography usually needed quite long exposures, and so if the person moved at all, you would get some motion blur. This looks like it might be a candid shot, so motion blur is even more likely.
 
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