Orange and White Clothing
Open Front Robe, circa 1735-40
Robe à la Française, circa 1770
American Cotton Dress, circa 1810
Dinner Dress, circa 1878
Dinner Dress, circa 1880
Corset, circa 1880
Court Dress, circa 1892
House of Worth Bridesmaid Dress, circa 1896
House of Worth Walking Suit, circa 1898
House of Worth Afternoon Dress, circa 1905
Orange and White Accessories
Nessus Abducting Deianira Cameo, circa 1815-25
Evening Turban, circa 1823
Silk and Ivory Parasol, circa 1868
Child’s Shoes, circa 1875
Pearl and Citrine Ring, circa 1890
Orange and cream is a beautiful combination reminiscent of gold and pearls (also, tasty Dreamsicles!). It’s both adventurous and refined at the same time. Orange is a volatile color with so many shades and variations from tawny gold to soft rust to deep burnt umber; some like it, some don’t, but when paired with cream, any orange suddenly becomes exceptionally elegant! The combination has appeared throughout history, becoming especially popular from the late Victorian period well into the 1970s.
Please note that it’s often difficult to tell from pictures–and even the historical garments themselves– what the true, original colors of the fabric were due to changes in lighting and how time has affected the quality of the dyes. What might look orange today might have been a bright red, or a beautiful white might have yellowed with age. I have tried to judge each piece fairly, making sure that it is either close to the original color or at least fabulous looking as-is! :)
Click here to discover more Historical Color Combos!
As with all my articles, all of the images in this article are either linked to larger versions, articles explaining them, or other fact-filled sites to help you explore, so please feel free to check them out!