Red dress in the 1850s?

[frualeydis]

To all you victorian experts: How common was it to have a ruby red ball gown in the 1850s-60s. All portraits and preserved clothing show a lot of blue, but no deep red. Wasn't it popular, was it indecent and too "sexual" to wear ruby red or is it just me who have missed it?

Eva

Comments

[operafantomet.livejournal.com]

Good question! I wish I had a good answer.... :)

I might have noticed what I want to notice - but it looks to me that the era were more about "natural" colours and "sweet" fabrics. Later, in the 1770s sometime, the chemical dyes were invented, and they went nuts with crazy colours. But in the 1850's and 1860's, I have the impression green, white, blue and pale colours were more "in vogue".

Excited to read other replies!

[pinque.livejournal.com]

Aniline dyes were available in the 60s at least and you can see some truly amazing vibrant colours for mid to late 60s dresses. The one at the AUckland Museum was pobably more vibrant than it is now. The fabric is also shot so the purple of the two colours is probably brighter than it appears as well.

There is a famous Winterhalter portrait of the late 40s early 50s of a red velvet gown. I have it I htink so I'll just grab the name of the sitter.. OK.. it's in German as I go it from von Boehn... Queen of ... Berlgium? Belgier?
Found another one anyway:
Eugenie and son

Oh here's the one I mean:
Louise-Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte-Isabelle d'Orléans,

although no victorian expert...

[myralea.livejournal.com]

... i just passed by a painting today at the royal palace, although very quickly so i had no chance of taking any notes.

but my guess is a somewhat 1840-1850s type, a beautiful soft shimmery velvet in a deep ruby red... yes, i instantely fell in love and even though i am not so fond of the sleeves in the 1830s-1840s, the dress was so pretty i almost forgave the reminiscent of those in this dress ;)

if you want a ruby red dress, at least one noble (royal?) woman has chosen to be portraited in one. so i would say go for it! but i am more than a little prejudiced towards reds :)

/m

another red 1880s

[myralea.livejournal.com]

http://webart.nationalmuseum.se/work/work.aspx?id=24348

here's one ruby red dress!

[myralea.livejournal.com]

http://webart.nationalmuseum.se/work/work.aspx?id=39931

Re: here's one ruby red dress!

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

The last one is gorgeous. So maybe I will make a dres from ruby red silk taffeta. It all depends on what is still available when I start on that project in august or so. First I'm making a daydress from the 1850s. or rahter; first I'm going to make a corset. Sometime after easter I think.

Eva

[koshka-the-cat.livejournal.com]

I believe it's in From Queen to Empress, a book of dresses from the years of Queen Victoria's reign that has an absolutely stunning red ballgown. It's from the late 1860s and worn over an ellipitical cage. It has two bodices, one for daywear and one for evening. I'll scan it in when I find the book. It should be on my shelves, but seems to be hiding...

[frualeydis.livejournal.com]

That would be wonderful.

Eva