Townsend's Monthly Selection of Parisian Costumes, 1846, No. 1203 : Chapeau de Velours (...) c. 1846

This is plate number 1203 from *Townsend’s Monthly Selection of Parisian Costumes*, published in 1846. Although the artist is unknown, this print offers a glimpse into the fashion norms of the mid-19th century. The image presents an idealized vision of feminine attire, reflecting the rigid class and gender expectations of the era. The detailed rendering of each dress emphasizes the importance of appearance in defining a woman's social status. Yet, we might also consider how these images functioned for women themselves, perhaps inspiring them to navigate or even subvert those social expectations. In a society that often confined women to the domestic sphere, fashion could be a form of self-expression, a way to assert individuality within a restrictive social framework. These images suggest a world of aesthetic choices, of carefully constructed identities, and quiet rebellions.