A fashion icon ‘The Countess of the Crinoline’

The Bowes Museum has a significant collection of clothes worn by the Empress Eugenie (1826-1920), wife of Napoleon III (1808-1873) the Emperor of France. The collection was donated to the Museum by Robert and Alice Edleston of Gainford, who bought it during a sale of Eugenie’s effects in 1923.

Empress Eugènie and Joséphine Bowes were contemporaries living in Paris at the same time. Both women were dressed by Charles Frederick Worth, the first couturier. His clients were European royalty and the aristocracy. By buying from Worth Joséphine Bowes identified herself with the highest level of fashion, status and wealth.