I
t’s technically Fall here in Southern California but from the 100 degree-plus temperatures we’ve been having, one wouldn’t think so…and naturally with Fall our thoughts turn to outerwear. Towards this end, today’s post is a selection of more practical style of outerwear that were available in the 1880s so enjoy!
O
uterwear, and especially practical outerwear, is something that’s typically overlooked in fashion and the late 1880s were no exception. This all got started with this interesting picture dated from 1881:

Yankton, South Dakota, 3d street looking west from Walnut. 1881
And from there, we found some interesting examples starting with this 1880s coat from the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art:
And here’s another example that’s dated from circa 1883:

Women’s Coat, American, c. 1883; Metropolitan Museum of Art (1982.348.3)

Side Profile

Rear View
This coat is almost very similar to the one worn by the woman in the center front of the picture. And just for fun, here’s a more elaborate design by John Redfern:

Redfern, Women’s Coat, 1888; Chicago History Museum (1987.471.1a-)

Close-Up

Three-Quarter Side View

Three-Quarter Rear View
This coat design is a women’s version of the Inverness coat/cloak with tailored lines designed to work with the bustled dress style characteristic of the late 1880s. The above is only a small sample but it does give an idea of the sort of outerwear that was found in the 1880s.