Wide Crossed Neck Ribbons
Nineteenth century women loved to wear ribbons — in their hats and hair, around their necks and waists, or just tied in a bow and fixed to their dress. So we have no shortage of images showing women wearing ribbons. But there were fashions in just how a ribbon was to be worn, and what type of ribbon it should be — wide or narrow, plain or patterned, light or dark.
The ribbons were often of silk, and as such were relatively expensive. Skimping on the width or length of a ribbon might be a sign of modest means. They were also very much an optional accessory, so we rarely see any ribbon styles universally adopted — rather they were worn or left off at the lady’s whim.
In this article, we are going to examine a particular style of ribbon — very wide neck ribbons (typically two inches or more in width) that were long in front. They were wrapped around the neck or collar, and crossed in front — often pinned with a brooch or locket — then the two ends were suspended at about 45 degree angles for a length of 5 to 10 inches.