Regency Fashion: Evening, Carriage, and Walking Dresses (1827)



Records of the Beau Monde FASHIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 1827 PRINTS OF THE FASHIONS EXPLANATION OF THE No 1 EVENING DRESS A GOWN of a novel description the lower part being made like a pelisse robe of pink crape richly ornamented with satin of the same colour One broad bias fold of pink satin surrounds the border cut in points next the knee to which it nearly ascends at the part where the robe closes down the front of the skirt is a broad layer of satin notched in points on each side down the centre of this ornament are bows of pink satin ribbon placed at equal distances The body is finished in front with fichu robings in points similar in appearance to the Anglo Greek stomacher The sleeves are long and of white crape with double rows of antique points of white satin next the hand a broad gold bracelet fastened with a cameo head A dress hat of white trans parent crape under the brim a fluting of broad blond the crown of the hat covered with beautiful white plumage playing in every direction No 2 CARRIAGE DRESS A DRESS of taffety of the very lightest tinge of willow green with four broad tucks or bias folds round the border car ried up almost the whole length of the skirt The body made quite plain and an elegant fichu worn over it made of fine India mus lin with a standing up collar finished by a full frill trimming of very fine lace This trimming when the fichu is of crape or of Japanese gauze is of blond A hat of Leg horn ornamented with corn poppies green wheat and maize completes this costume No 3 CARRIAGE COSTUME THIS dress which is adapted for paying carriage visits of ceremony is of a slight summer silk the colour etherial blue de licately checquered with black or dark pur ple the checquers formed of ranges of small spots which have a novel and beautiful effect One simple tuck finishes the border of the skirt The sleeves are according to the new appellation à la Marie but differing in scarce any respect from those long known as en gigot they are confined at the wrists with broad bracelets formed of cameos A fichu of tulle trimmed with broad blond and deep falling collar ornamented in a corresponding manner entirely conceals the corsage The hat is of fine Leghorn with a full plumage of white ostrich feathers with strings of tartan ribbon dark and lively colours on a white ground and these are in a loop A rosette of white ribbon is placed on each side of the hat under the brim and a bandeau of the same crosses the hair over the forehead from one rosette to the other No 4 WALKING DRESS A DRESS of canary yellow gros de Naples with three very broad distinct bias folds on the border of the skirt Sleeves à la Marie with antique points at the wrists and an enamelled bracelet of white and gold next the hand Fichu pelerine of fine India mus lin with long mantelet ends the pelerine finished all round by Spanish points edged with fine braiding and surmounted by flut ings of lace The ends of this elegant out door covering are drawn through a belt of tartan ribbon yellow checquers on a white ground though some ladies prefer the pattern to be of different colours The pelerine is fastened at the throat with a bow of ribbon the same as the belt a small triple French ruff of lace surmounts the fichu part The hat is of white crape or chip and is orna mented with bows and long puffs of tartan ribbon yellow on a white ground Blue silk stockings with kid slippers of the same colour en sandales complete the dress GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON FASHIONS AND DRESS THE Country is now in all its beauty and the bright and cheering scene is embellished by Britannia's lovely daughters who have wisely quitted the confined and unwholesome
atmosphere of the metropolis for a purer air It is now then that we must pursue their fair forms through shrubs and flowers to catch the modern style of drapery in their light summer garments and follow them over the salubrious sea beach to seize the fashion of their hats and pelisses in order that we may impart the truest intelligence of the changes which may have taken place in modish costume The most fashionable summer pelisse is of a superior sort of taffety lighter and more suitable to the summer than either levantine or gros de Naples It is of that beautiful chaste colour shewn on the reverse of a green sage leaf This pelisse is trimmed down each side in front of the skirt and round the border with a full rûche pinked of the same material as the dress White muslin canezou spencers with wide sleeves after the French fashion form another favourite out door costume over a coloured muslin or taffety dress Large straw bonnets bound at the edge and trimmed with very broad ribbons of striking colours either striped or checquered are much in request for walking and for the open carriage to which purposes they are well adapted being of a close kind and shielding well the face from the sun and heat Though very fine straw for these useful bonnets is the greatest novelty yet many ladies still continue their predilection for Leghorn in despite of its being heavier and not nearly so becoming as the straw manu facture of our own country The close capôte bonnet of rose coloured gros de Naples with a very full rûche at the edge of the brim is much worn by young ladies in morning drives in the country Some chip hats in carriages are seen with no other ribbons than those which compose the strings while a long veil of white gauze is thrown back over the crown Indeed this is the time of year when simplicity forms the standard of real elegance Printed muslin dresses are still in high request en deshabille The favourite ground is yellow they are however no longer of that turmeric tint which was so prevalent the last week of July but are now of the beauti ful canary yellow and the figures are in a more delicate and pencilled style than when in those gaudy variegated hues which accord least of all with bright yellow They are trimmed in various modes some in bias folds others in full flounces cut in bias Long sleeves of white jaconot muslin look well with these dresses and impart to them a smartness which takes from that common appearance which always attends a coloured linen gown Of rural balls there are as yet very few and even at these the dresses are plain and simple Striped gauze with very slight trimming either white or coloured and the same style of dress generally prevails at the concerts and public rooms of the most distinguished watering places The waists are rather too long and are in the antique fashion pointed before and behind Many sashes are worn as belts without ends the long streamers having become common The new belts are fastened with a gold buckle Short sleeves are worn in evening costume when it is a dress party and also at music meetings White muslin dresses yet reign unrivalled in every style of parure their texture their trimmings the expense and the profusion of their lace ornaments evince their proper association with the ele gant head dress and the splendid jewellery worn with these superb muslins the closely woven jaconot with its folds tucks or one broad flounce on the other hand proving that its simple style is fitted only for the quiet walk or the home costume of fashion able life Sarcenet and taffety dresses are more worn by our matrons for demi parure than gros de Naples The hair of young persons is braided across the forehead the temples shaded by curls and on the summit of the head loops of hair which form a bow Dress hats are of chip placed on one side on the right which is the elevated part is a plume of feathers tipped with blue or pink One small feather is fixed under the brim over the right temple Dress hats are generally the favourite coiffeures of married ladies at evening parties and dinners when in the country those that are now of crape or net are lined with pink and are adorned with branches of small flowers amongst which the jessamine and forget me not are most conspicuous The head is so often shielded by a hat or bonnet at this season that there is no novelty in the head dress department worth mentioning The favourite colours are sage leaf green canary yellow pink willow green lilac blue and light fawn colour

Designs and descriptions appeared in the September 1827 issue of La Belle Assemblée.


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2 Responses to Regency Fashion: Evening, Carriage, and Walking Dresses (1827)

  1. Nancy Mayer says:

    I think those dresses are ugly and I am glad I don\t have to wear them. The hats and shoulders are grotesque.