
I chose both of these because they show some fashionable men's clothing (which by now you all must know I am a bit obsessive about). Not that I don't love women's clothing as well. I just think men's fashions from the 19th century are equally fascinating and more interesting than generally represented.
Both of these plates show men in the wide-skirted long frocks of the 1840s-50s, with colorful vests and contrasting trousers (usually of a pale color like dun, dove, or gray). Cravats and lapels were wide, while waists were narrow. It was during the 60s that men's corsets fell out of fashion as the popular silhouette became less waspish. Small feet have always been considered beautiful and like most fashion plates, here are a bunch of people trotting about on tiny little pointed shoes. Men's footwear, in reality, was a bit less extreme than what is depicted here