When I was performing my daily duties I came across this Godey’s Fashions picture of these two magnificent dresses. These dresses would be the perfect fit for Gertrude. She is always wearing that same shabby black dress! What a disgrace! Gertrude never seems to care about what she looks like. I will give her one of these dresses as a gift. I must, as I know she will never buy it herself. I need not have my nieces looking inferior to the other women at their events and while they are out roaming the streets. This black dress will look splendid on Gertrude. She lacks the beauty that Phyllis has to attract the men so she needs this dress to conceal that aggressive character of hers. I shall show Gertude this when I ride my carriage to visit them within the next fortnight. She must appreciate this deed I am doing for her. I am saving her from the disgrace of looking foolish around all these wealthy and high-class men. My nieces must be careful in their conduct and look out for their appearance. If they will not do such things I tell them they will not be well off. I shall not have that! My sister would be so disappointed in me if I let her daughters end up with shabby boys with no character or inheritance. Will Gertrude possess the ability to represent the family? With this dress, she will begin to do so. She must find a husband she can take care of and perform her duties for. She must! Her other sisters will follow in her footsteps if poor Gerty can find her way with my proper guidance.
Editorial Commentary: A connection can be made between the picture of these dresses and Caroline Pratt’s desire to portray her nieces properly. When reviewing Caroline Pratt’s thoughts in this commonplace book, it becomes evident through many comments that she despises the way they dress. The reader can sense a feeling of embarrassment felt by Caroline as she repeatedly makes blunt and rude comments to her nieces. At the beginning of her commentary Caroline states “[Gertude] is always wearing that same shabby black dress!”. Caroline portrays Gertrude’s style as her lack of “care about [her] look” but the real reason is that Gertrude and her sisters can not afford those high-quality and pretty clothes. Caroline disregards that fact and continues to express her disapproval of her outfit. Caroline’s distasteful stabs at Gertrude’s clothing highlights Caroline’s strong desire to hold a valued reputation in which she and her nieces look rich, pretty, and respectful. These dresses were the most popular and wanted dresses of this period. Due to this notion and Caroline’s tendencies to care deeply about what others think of her and her family, it can be noted that Caroline would likely relish these dresses and try to put her nieces in dresses like these. These dresses would portray her nieces as high-class women and would attract rich husbands to these ladies. With that said, Caroline would very much desire these dresses so that she may improve the social status of her family and in turn herself. These dresses and Caroline’s desire to put her nieces in them give a deeper insight into how society during this time put great pressures on women to look a certain way.
Citation: “Photobucket-Com.jpg (648×1024): Victorian Era Fashion, Fashion, Vintage Clothes Women.” Pinterest, www.pinterest.com/pin/4574037100578718/.