Treasures of Nassau: Antebellum Florida Part III

Pictured are replicas of how a middle-class couple and a slave might have dressed in the 1820s. Muslin had replaced the heavy brocade and silks fabrics of previous decades in favor of comfort and breathability. Some men felt the new fabric scandalous for women because it was too sheer and conformed too closely to the female figure. Twenty years later, the fashion trend would return to confining garments for women. Submitted photos