3-004-030 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Mourning costume, 1861. 'The late melancholy event [the death of Albert, Prince Consort] which has plunged the nation into so deep and lasting a regret has, as may be imagined, created an almost incalculable demand for mourning [fabrics]...Our Artist has been permitted to take Sketches of Dresses that were about to be sent home to a family of rank from Jays'...The Corinne is a dress of rich glacé silk, with one flounce...finished at each point with rich jet and silk ornaments...The Monte Rosa is a mantle circular in shape...the style of trimming is the great novelty, and is composed of broad bands of crape, terminating at a distance from the bottom of the mantle with handsome tassel ornaments...Dress of black tulle; the skirt bouillonné, fastened in the form of diamonds, with a ruching of tulle and satin ribbon...Headdress, coronet of jet flowers...with drooping jet falling over it; small black ostrich plume on the right side...crape, as trimming, has been generally prevalent. Paramatta is worn by parties in connection with the Court, as well as some of the deeper description of woollen textures'. From "Illustrated London News", 1861.