Girl in Topeka, Kansas
Click here to view it larger.
This little carte de visite isn’t especially unusual, though I think it’s a perfectly attractive image. But looking closely at the details, I noticed a couple things. First, it seems she might be standing in front of a posing stand, or some other piece of furniture. (If it’s not a posing stand, I wonder what it is.) Second, I noticed that her skirt seems to have been constructed of different pieces. I’m not a clothing expert, but I wonder if it was an attempt to lengthen the skirt in what I’m sure was a rapidly growing teen. By the way, the photograph was taken by Aldine Art Gallery (Alden and Shellabarger, Proprietors), of Topeka, Kansas. Info on Shellabarger can be found here.
Pics of Then 
You must be right about her skirt. It certainly couldn’t be any longer.
Her brooch (starburst?) against a white ribbon enlivens her outfit. Also, we can see just enough of her hair to know that she spent a lot of time on it. Very nice portrait!
I agree. A lot of care went into putting together that look.