Fashion plates are a classic, even stereotypical angle image from the Victorian era, featuring duos and trios of women modeling the latest looks circa 1877. But how did consumers of the time actually use these images? What did you actually do with a fashion plate, anyway?

Long before glossies and style bloggers there were fashion plates, which the rich woman of yore would take to her modiste (and the less-rich woman would try recreating at home). But have you ever noticed how the women in these illustrations of whatever was “in” for the season always look like they’re discussing…