Regency Fashion: Walking and Evening Dress (1810)

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This month, we are featuring an additional fashion spotlight that includes some jewelry descriptions which were of interest to a Regency Reader.



FASHIONS FOR MARCH 1810 EXPLANATION OF THE PRINTS OF FASHION ENGLISH COSTUME No 1 HYDE PARK WALKING DRESS A pelisse of black Merino cloth or velvet buttoned from the throat to the fect made to fit tight to the shape with a band and crape ornamented with a double row of gold braiding or an oriental embossed silk trimming worn over a chemisette of French lawn A Spanish hat and flat drooping ostrich feather tipped with orange Half boots of black or orange coloured Morocco Angola muff lined with yellow the hair lightly curled on the left side with a thick braid crossing the face Ear rings of gold or amber Gloves of York tan No 2 EVENING FULL DRESS A white satin round dress with half yard train laced up the back and seams with gold twist ornamented round the neck with a full twill of frosted satin or white crape and down the front and at the wrist with gold braiding and small drop buttons It is made to sit high on the neck cut to a point in the centre of the bosom and back a gold band encircles the waist A white satin Emsdorf helmet trimmed with gold ornamented with two white craped ostrich feathers White satin shoes embroidered with gold white kid gloves gold necklace and ear rings cornelian brooch The hair dressed in ringlets on each side the face with a long Theresa curl falling over the left shoulder No 3 SECOND FIGURE An India muslin train over a white satin petticoat A boddice of green velvet orna mented at the seams with gold braiding and trimmed round the neck with a twill of green crape or velvet A Spanish cap with green craped ostrich feathers DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL DRESSES WORN BY LADIES OF DISTINCTION 1 A white satin dress ornamented with & silver chain trimming round the bosom and sleeves a girdle of pink japan large before but graduating toward the end The head dress a silver chain in the octagon form bound Ne IL VOL I NS twice round the head it is worn under the hair on one side the face which is dressed very full in ringlets and falls over on the other it is confined under the band and merely curled in simple round curls Earrings and necklace of pink topaz 2 A gown of Egyptian brown velvet em broidered round the neck with shaded brown chenilles a small shell silver trimming round the bosom and sleeves a drapery of yellow crape showered with spangles crossing the shoulders and confined to the waist before by a silver band The head dress a band and crescent of topaz Diamond necklace and earrings 3 A gold coloured satin dress embroidered round the bosom and sleeves with silver The head dress a gold elastic chain band with a demi train of yellow foil Necklace and earrings of diamonds or pearls 4 A satin robe of maiden's blush confined to the waist by a clasp or girdle of diamonds a silver spangled handkerchief thrown over one shoulder Head dress two rows of large pearls confined to a diamond loop in front a demi tiara of pink foil placed across the band on the left side the hind hair brought for ward and disposed by a pearl comb so as to fall low in ringlets over the face Necklace of pearls diamond earrings and cross 5 Pale green crape train dress with white satin body and short sleeves embroidered in silver and shaded green chenilles worn over a white satin petticoat head dress a band of oblong French pearl beads set with brilliants brought low on the forehead the hair in light Theresa ringlet curls on each side the face a small richly spangled silver handkerchief thrown over the head necklace of emerald or ruby 6 White crape train dress with pale pink sa tin body showered with silver head dress a band of pearls with a diamond ornament in the oblong or loop form in the centre the hind hair brought forward on the left side falling in light ringlets over the band which is thus partly shaded necklace of pearls with a pink topaz cross earrings in the drop form to correspond
An eminent writer addressing himself to the female sex observes Dress is an impor tant article in female life The love of dress is natural therefore it is proper and rea sonable Good sense will regulate your ex pence in it and good taste will direct you to dress in such a way as to conceal any ble mishes and set off your beauties if you have any to the greatest advantage But much delicacy and judgment are required in the ap plication of this rule A fine woman shews her charms to most advantage when she seems most to conceal them The finest bosom in nature is not so fine as what imagination forms The most perfect elegance of dresspondent colours appears always the most easy and the least GENERAL OBSERVATIONS AND REFLECTIONS ON FASHION AND DRESS complexion We have observed several in very dark green lined with pink or orange with straw cottage bonnets trimmed with velvet flowers or shaded ostrich feathers Pelisses are made to fit tight to the shape without a band with a broad trimming of sable or of the Nootka Sound otter They are mostly made in velvet of the colour of rubies garnet royal purple or puce some are ornamented round the botton with a very broad embossed figured ribband studied The same writer goes on to recommend That attention to dress be not confined to public appearance Accustom yourself to an habitual neatness so that in the most careless undress in your most noguarded hours you may have no reason to be ashamed of your appearance You will not easily believe how mach men consider your dress as expressive of your characters Vanity levity sloven liness folly appear through it An elegant simplicity is an equal proof of taste and deli eacy Speaking on elegance the same writer says This is not so much a quality itself as the high polisk of every other It is what diffuses an ineffable grace over every look every motion every sentence you utter It gives that charm to beauty without which it generally fails to please It is partly a personal quality in which respect it is the gift of nature but here it is treated of as a quality of the mind In a word it is the perfection of taste in life and mauners every virtue and every excellency in their most graceful and amiable forms Having sciceted a variety of the most ele gant dresses worn by women of the most ap proved taste as well as of the first rank and fashion we shall proceed according to our usual method to some few observations on their amore particular formation Pelisses and mantles have undergone no variation since our last communications A mantle of very pale fawn colour Merino cloth with large hood lined with pink silk worn with a High Land cap of the same material ornamented with two small flat ostrich feathers of the same catwer is a most becoming dress to a fair Morning dresses are still made in plain cambric with oblong spots or sprigs of lace let in on the bosom and sleeves Small lace caps tied down with coloured silk or gause handkerchiefs ornamented in front with a demi tiara of fancy flowers or a knot of pinks or ranunculus Gloves and shoes of corres Dinner or home dresses are mostly com posed of stuff cloth or velvet embroidered or trimmed with gold with long sleeves and moderate trains either high in the neck with a falling collar of worked muslin or full twill of lace or just above the rise of the bosom with a white crape habit shirt or standing frill of lace plain round the neck Velvet Turkish caps gold bands and spangled nets are much worn on the head Bands in every species of jewels are now the prevailing ornaments for the head they are worn low over the face with a diamond or other open work clasp or loop in the centre of the forehead The hair curled on each side in ringlets the hind hair brought forward and disposed so as to fall over the left side the face No variety has taken place in shoes they are still embroidered in gold or silver in the device of a star In respect to the jewellery the greatest no velty is the band for the head they are formed by two rows of coloured stones or pearls fastened to au ornament in the centre Gir dies in coloured gems distinguish the woman of fashion Earrings are made in the top and drop fashion Brooches in the form of sprigs or Cowers with gems of appropriate hues The prevailing rolours for the season are ruby garnet pace purple orange grass green and coquelicot TO CORRESPONDENTS Many inquiries having been made as to the name of the inventor of the elegant Full Dress given in our lust Num ber we have to inform our Readers and Subscribers that it was designed by Airs Barclay Frith street Soho

Plates, descriptions, and observances appeared in the March 1810 issue of La Belle Assemblée.  The evening dress features a gold necklace and earbobs, with a “cornelian” brooch.  Cornelian would have meant Carnelian, a reddish orange semi-precious variety of the silica mineral chalcedony that has been used for centuries in jewelry and decorative items.

 

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2 Responses to Regency Fashion: Walking and Evening Dress (1810)

  1. Michelle H says:
    March 26, 2025 at 9:03 am

    As I was scrolling down today’s blog email I at first thought the image at the top was a gentleman’s coat. I got a lot more interested when I realized it was a women’s outfit! I love that military influence. I love the big collar and trim. I would wear that now if I was taller and thinner. 🙂

    I really love the two evening gowns. These are definitely costly gowns. I wish we could have seen the front of the green bodice gown, love that color. I thought the gold trim on the white bodice was a little daring, maybe not for the girl in her first season. Oh my. Very beautiful though.

    The writing in the last article really fascinated me. Fashion hasn’t changed all that much if the ladies young, and mature alike were reading that kind of advertising gently disguised as advice, and on a regular basis. Much of it is somewhat truthful, but it’s adverting. Because it is from a bygone era we’re all fascinated with I also found it very charming.

    • Anne says:
      March 31, 2025 at 1:38 pm

      I featured these fashion plates and descriptions to share more about jewelry, but I also love the military influence on fashion during the Regency. I likely would wear the coat, too, the sleeve details in particular are delightful.

      I agree about your comments on advertising–its one of the reasons I share so many adverts on the site, wanting folks to reflect that fashion and beauty is often a form of advertising.