By 1815, the new rules that governed day and evening clothes were firmly in place. In general, long sleeves and high necklines were meant for day, and short sleeves and low necklines were considered appropriate for evening. These rules remained in force throughout the nineteenth century and even beyond. The distinguishing feature of 1850s fashion was a full skirt that grew larger with the decade. Dresses were divided into two pieces, a bodice and skirt, and it became common practice to have day and evening bodices that could be paired with the same skirt.
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