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Regency Fashion for March 1817

Morning and Evening Gown from the Ladies Monthly Museum March 1817.

THE MORNING DRESS.

 Of coloured bombazine, made high in the neck, full cape composed of three rows of satin, the skirt trimmed with the same material; the sleeves long, closed at the wrist, and finished with three rows of satin trimming; the waist is worn very short, and bound with a sash of satin ribband; the skirt rather full, and of a moderate length.

A cap of satin, or lace trimmed with rich blond, and ornamented with bows of satin ribband in front, and at the crown of the head; round the throat a frill composed of rich blond lace.

 In higher circles, beautiful Leghorn bonnets, with lower crowns and deeper fronts, already form the leading shape, whether for the promenade, or dress visit.

 THE EVENING DRESS. Composed of white satin, worn low in front; round the bosom and shoulders a rich trimming of satin and lace; the skirt ornamented with five or six rows of rich blond lace; the waist very short, and to fall rather low from the shoulders; at the centre of the bosom a bow of satin; the sleeves short and full.

A turban composed of white satin, finished on one side with an ornament of satin and a couple of tassels; the hair full, and parted in front.

Pearl necklace, white kid gloves, and white satin shoes.

Fashion for February 1817

From the The Ladies Monthly Museum For February 1817

THE EVENING DRESS

Is made of a beautiful coloured sarsnet, worn over a white satin slip; the waist very short, and low in the bust; the sleeves short and full, falling much over the shoulders and low in the back, above which is worn a frill of blond lace; round the waist is a sash of satin ribband, fastened in a bow in front.

The skirt of this beautiful dress is ornamented with a deep trimming of net, and rows of coloured satin, which produces a light and beautiful effect, particularly in the ball-room.

The hair is parted in front, and falls on each side in soft ringlets, and the head surmounted with a plume of white feathers. White kid gloves, and white satin shoes. We can recommend this dress to our fair readers who are in the bloom of youth, as a most becoming and fascinating acquisition of its kind.

WALKING DRESS.

A round dress of cambric muslin, the body of the gown made high, long sleeves, the skirt finishing with a Vandyke flounce. Pelisse of rich scarlet silk-velvet, worn high in the neck, and finishing with a puckered cape of satin and velvet; the waist short, and bound with a silk cord, and tassel; the sleeve is made full at the shoulder, and finishes at the wrist with a trimming of satin and silk cord; the skirt is made full, and of a moderate walking length, lined with white satin, and finished with a rich trimming of spotted vandyked ermine.

Close French bonnet, ornamented with a plume of feathers, and trimmed with satin ribband, corresponding with the pelisse, lined with white satin. With this dress is worn a muff, to suit with the trimming of the pelisse.

I hope you enjoy these peek at fashion from 200 years ago and invite you to visit my website at http://www.annlethbridge.com.  Sign up there for my news letter.

Coming soon from Ann Lethbridge   An Innocent Maid for the Duke  
FROM Harlequin Historicals 
Book Two in a 4 Book Miniseries,
The Society of Wicked Gentlemen  

Extract* 

To Rose, the sensation of being held remained a novel experience. Few people in her life had put their arms around her as far as she recalled. And only this man had ever embraced her with such gentle care. His touch seemed to reach into her very soul. And the way his kisses made her feel was heaven on earth.

A heaven she hadn’t known existed, or that it could be shared with another. Her body trembled and yearned and her heart seemed to want to pound itself free of her chest. She twined her arms around his neck, for support and because she wanted to touch him, too. The feel of his silky hair against her fingers was enchanting and wicked.

Fashion for February 1817

Evening Gown February 1817  Ackermann's Repository

The dress
Is composed of white crape over white satin. The body, which is a mixture of satin and crape, is perfectly novel, and extremely becoming to the shape; it is confined to the waist by white satin, fastened in front by a ruby clasp. 

The sleeve is long, and we refer for its form to our print. The skirt is trimmed with crape draperies, elegantly ornamented with bunches of roses. These draperies are surmounted by three rows of rich white fancy silk trimming. 

The hair, which is much parted on the forehead, is dressed very low at the sides, and the hind hair brought to a very moderate height. A wreath of roses, intermingled with exotics, is placed very far back on the head. 

White kid gloves, and white spotted silk slippers. Necklace, ear-rings, chain, &c are composed of various coloured stones. A transparent silk shawl is thrown carelessly over the shoulders, in such a manner as to form a very elegant drapery.

Coming soon from Ann Lethbridge   An Innocent Maid for the Duke  
FROM Harlequin Historicals 
Book Two in a 4 Book Miniseries,
The Society of Wicked Gentlemen  

Extract* 

To Rose, the sensation of being held remained a novel experience. Few people in her life had put their arms around her as far as she recalled. And only this man had ever embraced her with such gentle care. His touch seemed to reach into her very soul. And the way his kisses made her feel was heaven on earth.

A heaven she hadn’t known existed, or that it could be shared with another. Her body trembled and yearned and her heart seemed to want to pound itself free of her chest. She twined her arms around his neck, for support and because she wanted to touch him, too. The feel of his silky hair against her fingers was enchanting and wicked.

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Regency Fashion - January 1817

                     Full Dress - Ackermann's Respository for January 1817.

A WHITE soft satin slip, tastefully ornamented at bottom with a flounce of broad blond lace, and a light roll of white satin, surmounted by a wreath of lilies composed of plain blond, and a second roll of satin. The stalks of the lilies are formed of white silk cord, and a row of the same, disposed in waves, is placed above the roll of satin. Nothing can be more beautiful than this trimming. 

The gown, composed of spotted British net, is an open robe, with a short train, which meets in front, but slopes gradually off towards the bottom, so as to display the trimming of the slip. The robe is ornamented with a flounce of blond lace to correspond with the slip, and a wreath of intermingled lilies and roses. 

We refer our readers to our print for the body of the dress, which is tasteful and very novel. The sleeve is short and very full; a single flounce of blond is so disposed as to form an uncommonly pretty half-sleeve. 

The hair is brought up in a high tuft behind, and the front hair combed back on each side so as to display the forehead; a part of it is disposed in loose ringlets, which fall carelessly over the ears, which they partly shade. The hair is ornamented by a single lily, placed in a  bunch of fern. 

Necklace, ear-rings, bracelets, and armlets of ruby intermixed with pearl. 

White kid gloves, and white satin slippers. Plain small ivory fan.—We have been favoured by a correspondent in Paris with a model of this dress, which has just been made for the Duchess de Berri. 

This is one of those gowns that make me adore the Regency.  What about you?

Coming soon from Ann Lethbridge

An Innocent Maid for the Duke

"A petite woman in a glittering red mask was singing to herself, her scarlet gown swirling around her shapely ankles as she twirled in front of the mirrors, each one giving a different reflection of a gown moulded to every curve of a sinuously lush body moving in time to her humming. The smile on her parted lips was not the forced smile of a courtesan, nor that of a jaded widow, or yet the hopeful smile of a debutante anxious to please a duke. This smile was pure delight. Enjoyment.
Her joy at the simple act of dancing spilled over with an infectious feeling of lightness that unaccountably lifted his spirits. He found his own lips curving upwards in response. Even more surprising, he found himself wanting to be the one to waltz her around the room."

copyright Michele Ann Young

Regency Fashion January 1817

Here is something that sounds new at least.  The Witzchoura, originally from Poland, is a mantle or cloak, with wide sleeves and a huge collar.

From the Lady’s Monthly Museum Mirror of Fashion

The English Witzchoura

Is the greatest novelty and most useful appendage to dress for the present season that can be conceived: it protects the wearer from the inclemency of the weather, preserves the dress worn under from being rumpled, and forms a most elegant exterior covering, either for riding, walking or evening parties.

Its make is quite novel; of which our print conveys a perfect idea. It is composed of a superfine lilac and white mixture cloth, lined with silk. A lady’s chapeau bras is attached to the Witzchoura, made of the same material, and lined with silk, in a very novel manner.

The cornet cap is composed of blond lace and scarlet silk velvet, ornamented with flowers, producing a most rich and beautiful effect. Suitable gloves, boots, and shoes, are worn, as may be required.

Evening Dress.

Is made of a beautiful Paisley gauze, richly trimmed with white fur, and black cording all round the fur, so as to give a half-mourning appearance to the dress; which is of a moderate length, so as to shew a part of the instep; the sleeves are rather full, so as to give them a rich effect, falling gracefully over the shoulders, and somewhat exposing the bust and back. 

White kid gloves, and white satin shoes.

I shall enjoy using this word in my books.  Until next time

Secrets of the Marriage Bed

Out now  

After one night of passion, the dissolute Duke of Dunstan made Julia his wife, but their honeymoon is far from blissful. Alistair trusts no one with his shameful secret, and that means keeping his tempting new bride at a distance… 

Julia longs for Alistair to yield to the powerful desire between them. But when the dark secrets of the marriage bed threaten their future, this new couple must overcome the past and surrender to their wildest passions to find a new, oh-so-delicious beginning together!

Find out more at my website.