Leap Year Special and Fashion

Not only am I offering leap year special at BookGoodies.com, but I have an extra day to post  February fashions for 1816.

Promenade Dress - Ackermann's Februrary 1816

A morning dress, composed of the finest dark mulberry ladies’ cloth, finished at the bottom of the skirt with a new-invented trimming, which has an uncommonly light and pretty effect.

A plain high body, over which is worn a spencer made of velvet one shade darker than the dress and ornamented with white satin; the half-sleeve, which is composed of white satin, and finished with white silk ornaments, is particularly novel and tasteful.

Head-dress, improved French bonnet, lined, edged, and trimmed with white satin, and ornamented with white feathers. Pointed lace ruffs. Mulberry kid sandals and gloves.

The Roxburgh muff worn with this dress is composed of white satin and swansdown, and lined with white satin. This muff, which we may venture to recommend to our fair readers as a very elegant novelty, is just introduced by Mrs. Griffin, and is, from the beauty and delicacy of its materials, calculated only for the first style of promenade or carriage dress.

We are indebted to the taste and invention of Mrs. Griffin, of Rider-street, St. James’s, for both our prints this month.



Until next time............................

St. Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is always a special day in the world of Romance, no what genre or era.  In the Regency Valentine's Day was marked with not cards and chocolates as it is so often today. I love those little heart shaped boxes of chocolates. I always bought them for my daughters.  I digress.

Valentine's Day was more of a "home made" affair, with posies and poems from secret admirers. I would be looking for a posy of snowdrops in February in England. A sign that spring was just around the corner and that the dude (sorry, gentleman) had gone to some trouble to seek them out.

Which would be the flower to win your heart?






Talking of winning hearts, I have joined in with several other romance authors to give away St Valentine's Day goodies.  If you want to know more about the contests, check out my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/AnnLethbridgeAuthor  Here is a graphic taste of what we are up to.

Wishing you all a happy day with your significant other, chocolate, a book, a movie, or whatever else floats your romance boat

Until next time

Regency Fashion February 1816

Given that the Season has hardly started, we begin with a very elegant gown.  Perhaps an invitation to a country estate came your way. If so, this would be apropos.

EVENING DRESS  Ackermann's February 1816

White crape, or lace frock, over a white satin slip; the body and sleeves are formed of a very elegant fancy material, which has just been introduced.

The body is extremely novel and elegant: we refer our readers for its form to our plate: the sleeve is very short, and, as well as the body, trimmed with blond, which is set on full.

The skirt is made a walking length, and is trimmed in a most tasteful style; but the slight view which we had of the dress will not permit us to describe it: our readers, will, however, be able to form a very correct idea of it from our plate.

Head-dress, the toque a la Rubens, composed of white lace, and ornamented with feathers and precious stones. Necklace, ear-rings, and locket, of diamonds.

White satin slippers trimmed en suite, and made, as all dress shoes now are, to come very high over the foot.

White kid gloves trimmed with tull. A French scarf, superbly embroidered at the ends, and thrown carelessly over the arm.

This dress, we understand, was invented by Mrs. Griffin for a lady of distinction; and it is certainly extremely novel and elegant.

The lack of specificity in this description is very odd. The fancy new material introduced.  The body novel, but then refers the reader to a plate in which it is difficult to see because the model is turned sideways on.

Marketing 1816 style?  Well done Mrs Griffin.

Until next time.