Figure 1.-- We note a CDV portatriat of an unidentified girl taken in the early-1860s. It is a cooy of a Civil War Era CDV. She looks to be about 6 years old. We know this because she is holding a cased Dag or Ambro which disappeared very quickly after the early 1860s. She wears a Zouave cut-away jacket with a white dress. Zoave styles were popular during the Civil War. We can huess that the cased photograph she is holding is one of her father in Zouave regiment. Zouave garments were primarily a male style. Women at the time weore long dresses. younger girls could wear skirts cut well above the ankles. This girl wears a white dress with pantelettes and white long stockings.

We begin to see really large number of photogrpjic images (1860s). This is when the CDV comes into existence. This meant that far more photograpohs were possible than with earlier photogrsphic processes. We see a range of headwear. Rounded crown headwear seem poplar and were worn by girls and boys. Women wore dresses with long hemlines. Girls might wear dresses wth low neckline anf more more practical, shorter hem lines. This was governed by age and not style in the 19th century. And during the first half of the 19h century girls wore shortyer cut dresses with pantalettes that extended well below the skirts, in some cases all the way to the ankles. Women might also wear pantalettes, but not so prominetly. Girls throughout the 19th century wore either dresses or skirts. We note a CDV portrait of an unidentified girl taken in the early-1860s (figure 1). She looks to be about 6 years old. We know this because she is holding a cased Dag or Ambro which disappeared very quickly after the early 1860s. She wears a Zouave cut-away jacket, popular during the Civil War. This is primarily a boy's garment. Younger girls could wear skirts cut well above the ankles. This girl wears a white dress with pantelettes and white long stockings.

1860s Photogaphy

Information available on fashion increased enormously in the mid-19th century. Photography is a major factor. We begin to see really large numbers of images fr thefirst time (1860s). This is when the CDV comes into existence. This meant an order of magnitude more photograpohs were possible than with earlier photogrsphic processes. Amd we get far more detail than was possible with Dags and Ambros. In additon, because the price for a portrait came down, we get a wider social spectrum. We also note more well-dressed subjects than earlier. We think that this was a reflection of the dynamic American economy as the Industrial Revolution was taking took hold. This was both better paid wprkers and an expnding middle class.

Headwear

And the popularity of the CDV leaves us an enormous photographic record with details on girls' dresses. We see a range of styles. Younger children might have low-necklines, but this was becoming less common as high necklines were becoming standard. Dresses were mostly done with defined waists. Boys might wear simple, often plain suits like cut-away jackets. Girls on the other hand commonly wore elaborate dresses using considerable amounts of fabric in addition to ertra petticoats. And we notice elablorte decoration. The dresses were commonly worn with voluminous petticots and/or hoop skirts, at least for the older girls. Skirt were also worn. We are not entiely sure just how common skirts were. The photogrphic records stringly suggests that dresses were much important than blouses and skirts. A factor, however, may be that children were commonly dressed up in their best outfits. Women wore dresses with long hemlines. Girls might wear dresses wth low neckline anf more more practical, shorter hem lines. This was governed by age and not style in the 19th century. And during the first half of the 19h century girls wore shortyer cut dresses with pantalettes that extended well below the skirts, in some cases all the way to the ankles. Women might also wear pantalettes, but not so prominetly. Girls throughout the 19th century wore either dresses or skirts. For some reaon we mostly see dresses, althouhgh we are unsure if this was an accurate indicator of prevalence. We wonder if skits may have been considered too informal for a photographuc portrait. This isaattern that continues throughout the cenury. We note this CDV portrait of an unidentified girl here (figure 1). It was prtobably taken in the early-1860s (figure 1). She looks to be about 6 years old. We know this because she is holding a cased Dag or Ambro which disappeared very quickly after the early 1860s. She wears a Zouave cut-away jacket, popular during the Civil War. This was primarily a boy's garment, but was briefly fshionable for girls and toung women. Younger girls could wear dresses and skirts with hems cut well above the ankles. This girl wears a white dress with pantelettes and white long stockings.

Hosiery

As hem lines rose feom the long empt dresses of the early 10th century. hosiery becmes more imprtant. White long stockings were standard. Stockings and footwear were similar for both boys and girls.

Footwear

There were a range of footwear in the 1860s. Hihh-tops were not as tet sandard. We see noth high-tops and low-cut shoes.

Created: 11:47 PM 3/28/2021
Last updated: 6:43 PM 9/3/2025