File:History of New York City - embracing an outline sketch of events from 1609 to 1830, and a full account of its development from 1830 to 1884 (1884) (14582164107).jpg

Identifier: historyofnewyork01loss (find matches)
Title: History of New York City : embracing an outline sketch of events from 1609 to 1830, and a full account of its development from 1830 to 1884
Year: 1884 (1880s)
Authors: Lossing, Benson John, 1813-1891
Subjects:
Publisher: New York : Perine Engraving and Pub. Co.
Contributing Library: Columbia University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: The Durst Organization

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with a hideous-appearing bonnet with high crown, in shapenot unlike a coal-scuttle, and often trimmed with huge bunches of arti-ficial flowers, sometimes with a full-blown peony. From their shoul-ders depended loose cloaks or shawls which effectually hid all charm offigure, and under these, plain untrimmed skirts reaching only to theankles. Below the skirts appeared spotless white hose and black slip-pers, kept in place by black silk strings wound around the ankles.Their heads were canopied with a spacious parasol of silk deeplyh inged, and with a ponderous carved ivory handle. From their armsdepended bags of richly colored silk embroidered with manv-huedbeads. In their hands they carried a pocket-handkerchief trimmedwith lace and daintily held at the middle by the forefinger andthumb, so that its whole dimensions and quality might be seen, for uponthese was often estimated the pecuniary standing of the family. Inwinter their necks were encircled with serpentine rolls of fur called a
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FIRST DECADE, 1330-1840. 1)1 boa, with the long ends dangling in front ; in summer its comple-ment was a long thin scarf. Indoors the belles of that day appeared in rather low-necked dresses,sometimes fashioned over the bust in the form of a bodice, stiff as steeland whalebone could make it, with an elastic, steel or hickory corset-board. Generally there was a broad waist-belt, fastened with a largeand sometimes highly ornamented buckle. The sleeves were verylarge, full, and puffed above the elbows into a pattern styled mutton-leg, which gave undue breadth to the shoulders and the appearance ofsmall span to the waist. The mutton-leg,1 it is said, was intro-duced by an English duchess to conceal an enormous wen on one of herarms. Below the elbow the sleeves were very tight. The skirt, as inthe walking-dress, was short and composed of ample materials. Flow-ing over the shoulders was a broad and elaborately wrought collar ofcambric muslin and fine needlework, and the hair was arranged in

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