by Ann Lethbridge
Here we are heading into the winter again. October is a month of frosts and falling leaves.
So what is our Fashionista wearing this month?
These are Paris fashions from The Ladies Magazine for October 1801. Much earlier than the Regency.
The accompanying text is general rather than descriptive of the place, but a couple of paragraphs are of interest.
"Veils constitute the principal part of most head-dresses. For full dress they are left entirely to the taste of the coiffeur, who, with the assistance of chefs, or silver ribbons, forms them into oblong turbans. A great many élégantes use ribons of unpolished silver, in the place of chefs. In half dress the veils are worn down, ô la religieuse. Upon many of the most elegant headdresses we observe an aigrette of hair, fastened with a pin."
"In general, rose is the prevailing colour. The robes of the newest taste are cut ô la Psyche. The ribbons are very narrow striped, and of very lively colours. The cambric bonnets are all the fashion for the morning; they are trimmed with gold, like the Spencers."
Our next picture is from the Ladys Magazine for October 1810
Full Dress: Gown of white sarcenet, enriched round the bottom with a Grecian border in gold; the body and sleeves are of pink satin: the latter are made open in the front, and confined at top and bottom by gold clasps; the stomacher of white satin, hussared across with blue silk cord. The head ornaments are of pearl, with a Chinese rose in front; the hair in full curls round the face, and hanging in ringlets from behind; neck chain and bracelets composed of double rows of pearl; ridicule of pink satin, netted over with blue silk. Shoes and gloves the color of the body.Walking Dress: A pelisse of white and yellow shot silk, gathered together in the front, and fastened together by a large sapphire broach, buttoned up the front, and trimmed round the bottom with broad white lace. The gown of white India muslin, made high in the neck, with an erect lace collar; ermine for tippet. Head-dress, French lace cap, and white chip hat, with a sprig of myrtle; plain gold ear-rings. Shoes and gloves to correspond with the pelisse. Parasol of blue silk.
I love the term "Hussared" I assume it means it has the look of a hussars lace across the front of a uniform. For the walking dress, it is interesting that the collar is actually part of the gown beneath, rather than the coat. I can imagine the cost of the sapphire broach.
Well that's it for me for fashion for this month. Until next time, Happy Rambles.
I've always wondered if the regency fashions actually included backless dresses, or are the pictures on the regency romance books simply trying to make the women look sexy? I thought they had restrictions on how much skin a woman could reveal back then, such as no showing the leg, and having to wear gloves in public.
ReplyDeleteCarol, Thanks for your comment.
ReplyDeleteMost of the dresses are in fact "undone" or unlaced. I think some gowns dipped at the back, but given no zippers and no metal eyelets and no elastic, the idea of backless just wouldn't hold up - literally. So your suspicion that is artwork intended to look sexy rings true with me.
Interesting that they would wear gloves then, yet show acres of bosom, isn't it? There were many more "rules" in later Victorian times, but certainly gloves were worn almost all the time in public in the Regency and only removed to eat or play a musical instrument. A glimpse of a well turned ankle would certainly be of interest to a man. Leaving things to the imagination is more of a tease, to my mind. However, we were not at the stage where females were not supposed to have legs and nor were pianos.
Long skirts were very practical since ladies did not wear underwear, under there. But it was still the Georgian era, and a much bawdier time that later under Victoria. It was the rise of the middle classes during this era that brought on that much stricter age.
Ann