The First Ladies’ Suit, anonymous, 1898
lithography, h 376mm × w 268mm More details
In the 1890s, trends in ladies’ fashion focused particularly on the cut of sleeves. Still puffed up like balloons in the 1895-1896 season, by 1898 sleeves were closefitting once more. Entirely new was the toilette tailleur – a skirt with a matching jacket, such as in the chequered ensemble here – which was perfectly suited for travel. The ladies’ suit was thus born.
