Church of San Domingo
Location: Buenos Aires
Description:
Though this is ostensibly a representation of the church in the background, in the foreground we can see many variations on the female costume of this city. The author, and illustrator of the original watercolor, provides a wonderful description of the scene:
"The usual dress of the ladies was of light silk and fine cotton, with a profusion of lace" No head-dress or cap confined their long and flowing black hair. A petticoat, that scarcely descended below the knee, was lengthened by folds of deep lace, which seldom hid from view even the gold fringe of their tasseled garters. At their assemblies, a petticoat of various-colored taffeta, ornamented with gold lace or fringe, and richly tasseled" encircled by a silk stocking, with a fanciful display of gold embroidery. Slippers of embroidered silk or gold brocade, with silver, adorned the feet. A kind of jacket of rich velvet, fitted tight to the shape, was laced or buttoned in front, and had long points hanging down all round the petticoat, and trimmed at the ends with pearl tassels. A cloak of gauze, or very fine cotton, reaching to the ground, and occasionally fastened to the side by a clasp of jewels, was thrown over the shoulders, which would otherwise have been uncovered" (46).
Further, he discusses the outside influences on fashion, a key factor of costume in these regions:
"Within these few years, however, the ladies of Buenos Ayres have adopted a style of dress between the English and French, retaining indeed the mantilla which still gives it a particular character. No hat or bonnet is ever seen on a native lady, unless she be on horseback, when she wears a beaver hat and feather, with a riding habit" (49).
It is this kind of image, and this kind of descriptive text, that helps us to better understand the climate of the development of costume in this region of the world after the arrival of the Europeans, and in fact several hundred years after that arrival.
Book Title: Picturesque Illustrations of Buenos Ayres and Monte Video
Plate Number: Page 45
Call Number: F3001 .N64 1820