Dressing for a Ball

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In preparing a costume for a ball, choose something very light. Heavy, dark silks are out of place in a ball room, and black should be worn in no material but lace. For a married lady, rich silk of some light color, trimmed with flowers, lace, or tulle; white silk plain, or lace over satin, make an exquisite toilette. Jewels are perfectly appropriate; also feathers in the coiffure.

For the young lady, pure white or light colors should be worn, and the most appropriate dress is of some thin material made over silk, white, or the same color as the outer dress. Satin or velvet are entirely out of place on a young lady. Let the coiffure be of flowers or ribbons, never feathers, and but very little jewelry is becoming to an unmarried lady. All ladies must wear boots or slippers of satin, white, black, or the color of the dress. White are the most appropriate, black, the most becoming to the foot. White kid gloves, full trimmed, a fine lace trimmed handkerchief, and a fan, are indispensable. Be very careful when dressing for a ball, that the hair is firmly fastened, and the coiffure properly adjusted. Nothing is more annoying than to have the hair loosen or the head-dress fall off in a crowded ball room.
The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, Fashion and Manual of Politeness by Florence Hartley, 1860, page 166-167.

The following links provide advice for ball dress from the Civil War period.

A Mid-19th Century Victorian Ball
This is from Victoriana, an on-line newsletter. Scroll down to find "Ball Dress for Ladies" and "Ball Dress for Gentlemen".

An Invitation to Dance
An American Antiquarian Society online exhibit

Vintage Victorian
Fashion plates of ladies' evening wear. Men's wear is discussed further down the page.

The Gentleman's Page: Evening Wear
"Gentleman's evening wear changed hardly at all from around 1860 until the 1920s."

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ball_dress/peter1863.jpg
Petersons 1863

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