For this week's Women with Hats you get five for the price of one! This wonderful, but somewhat faded CDV of five young, fashionable Parisian women was taken probably in the late 1870's. I can't even begin to start describing their ensembles, they are just too delightful! The skirts alone of their dresses with the ruffles, trim and diagonal designs have my eyes darting back and forth over the photo. The woman in the rear right has on the most lovely and stylish coat. And of course, let's not forget the hats! Each of them is wearing an entirely different hat and each is totally stylish in its own right.
The photographer was Hermet, perhaps Joseph Hermet, who reportedly appeared on the Paris photography scene sometime around 1872. About 1875 he bought the studio of Eugène Maunoury, a well-known artist and photographer. I unfortunately do not know French, but using Google I believe the back of the photograph says that he sells portraits in oil, watercolor and miniatures, a collection of celebrities contemporaries.
