With cold weather approaching, it might be a good time to consider updating your winter wardrobe. You might take inspiration, for example, from this fashionable winter ensemble from Chambéry, a city in eastern France and the historical capital of the Savoy region.
While we don’t know the identity of the young lady who is so elegantly and warmly attired, we do know that her portrait was made by an enterprising young man named Louis Chamussy, who opened the city’s first photography studio in 1859 when he was only twenty-one years old.
You’ll need a hoop to wear all these layers, of course. (Gloves are also recommended but not shown).
Dressing well for winter isn’t cheap, but when the mercury drops, you’ll be ready for a sleigh ride in the Alps! Before you head out on your winter adventures, stop by for a portrait at Louis Chamussy’s atelier de photographie à Chambéry.
Tokens of Companionship 
How funny! I just purchased a faux fur trim cape from H&M!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Some styles are timeless, Sherri. I’m glad to hear you’ll be warm and stylish this winter. 😉
LikeLike
She looks like she just stepped out of the pages of “Little Women!”
LikeLiked by 5 people
Haha, yes! Or maybe “Anna Karenina.”
LikeLike
I just bought a new coat but it is nothing compared to this beautiful ensemble. She doesn’t seem very happy. I wonder if she’s just been informed that she must marry someone she would rather not.
LikeLiked by 3 people
I bet your new coat looks great. Let’s hope she didn’t have to marry anyone she didn’t want to. Have you shown this photo to Henri? I imagine he would have an opinion about it, being the temperamental fellow that he is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
After reading Liz’s comment, Henri was ROFL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the photo and research you did – but I am So glad to not have this be the fashion today!
Just updated my winter coat with a thin and stylish down jacket that is lightweight and warm.
Guess just different times 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sometimes I wonder how people in the 1800s could even move around, let alone be warm or comfortable. Things have certainly changed for the better in that regard. Thanks for visiting! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes – it was truly a different MO because of the clothes….
and thanks for the reply to my comment – have a good day
LikeLiked by 1 person
My reaction when I saw this lady come across my email had nothing to do with fashion: Oh, my word! That woman is hiding a small village under her dress!
LikeLiked by 4 people
My thought was: At least she wouldn’t have to wear a corset!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, isn’t that funny! But I’ll bet you anything that she was wearing a corset under that voluminous outfit.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re probably right.
LikeLike
Best comment of the day! 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The expression on her face clearly translates, “Just try it, Mister.” I would not mess with this woman. As for winter gear, I’ll be sorting it out soon, in hopes that by the time January rolls around, it will be cool enough for a sweater. I have no idea why I’ve kept every favorite winter coat I’ve ever owned, especially since there’s zero chance I’m going to travel north in the winter. But, you never know.
I still can’t get over the fact that we used to trot around in two feet of snow wearing skirts and heels. I have no idea what we were thinking, but everyone thought it. I’ll bet this gal would be happy with some Gore-Tex for Christmas.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fixed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heels in snow, good grief! I can’t imagine that. Winter boots should be wide, with soft rubber soles for better traction on ice. In other words, the exact opposite of heels. I don’t blame you for not wanting to come north in the winter. Your January weather sounds pretty good!
LikeLike
Nice photo. I think the coat needs to be that wide because she’s wearing a crinoline skirt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’m sure you’re right. And lots of petticoats. Not convenient for movement, but probably warm enough.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sassy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Possibly! 😉
LikeLike
That was an ambitious young photographer, only 21 year old and started a photostudio.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought the same thing. Young and reckless! He actually had a good career, operating his studio in Chambéry for 18 years and even exhibiting in Paris. He may have benefited from starting early. The business of studio photography became very competitive later on.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh my! To be encumbered by so many clothes. And her skirt would get wet dragging on the ground. Looks fine, but must’ve been mighty uncomfortable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perfect for going to the theater! But not for much else, methinks.
LikeLike
A nice portrait. There’s just so much material in the coat! Must be heavy to wear. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wondered about that, too. Certainly heavier than what we wear today. But if she didn’t have to walk great distances in it, it might not matter much. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
haha I suppose there is that! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful! All that gear would be heavy, but it would certainly keep you warm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps not warm enough for a Canadian winter, but warm enough for most places, I would think!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Loving the comments almost as much as I love the portrait.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Her girth at the lower part must have kept people at a distance from her (and other girls and women of the time – pavements/sidewalks must have been very wide, or maybe didn’t exist – would anything have been wide enough to accomodate all that?) I actually wonder if, as well as hoops, if she might have been pregnant…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It certainly would have been easy to hide a pregnancy. Since it was considered improper for pregnant women to be seen in public, hooped skirts might have given them a freedom they wouldn’t have had otherwise. Interesting thought!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I think pavements were wide enough for pedestrians back then – there being no cars being in the way…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good point! It was easy to move out of the way of carriages, if there wasn’t a lot of traffic.
By the way, your postcard of “Schloss Sagan, Französische Bibliothek” is marvelous. It looks more like a museum than a library.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah ha! Yes, you’re right!
LikeLike
Those skirts sure took up a lot of space! I remember seeing a painting at Birmingham Museum of two girls basically filling a railway compartment with their skirts. I’ve got a postcard of it, which of course I haven’t handy to show you. I was thinking about the amount of fabric these clothes required to make.
Btw, someone above mentioned that her skirt would trail in the dirt of the street. For that, you need a skirtlifter: a nifty tool, rather like tongs, but with little discs at the ends so you don’t have the sharp ends digging into your fabric.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is the painting you remembered “The Travelling Companions” (1862) by Augustus Leopold Egg? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Travelling_Companions). The description says you can tell that the train is in motion because the tassel of the window blind is swinging. So clever! The view through the window is the coastline of Menton, on the French Riviera. I hope the girls thought to bring a skirtlifter on their holiday, but they look like teenagers, so probably not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that is it! It’s the kind of painting that sets my imagination going: who are they, what are they doing, what might their lives be like etc.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Is this a train or a coach/carriage? The shape of the windows makes me think the latter. Great composition.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The windows are certainly reminiscent of a carriage, but the setting is definitely a train, according to descriptions of the painting online.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok, thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for popping in! 🙂
LikeLike
The photo looks a bit like a dowdy sombre Southern belle’s mom. I agree with the Louisa Mae Alcott reference. The style makes her look older, to me. Great way to hide an extra pound or two!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those older styles had their advantages! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would never leave my neck uncovered! I would wear a scarf.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very wise, Luisella! Especially if you live in Finland. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person