Regency Fashion: Summer Ball Dress and Afternoon Home Dress (1828)

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THE MIRROR OF FASHION FOR SEPTEMBER 1828 SUMMER BALL DRESS A DRESS of white clear muslin with a broad hem at the border finished by points edged by a full rûche of tulle Short full sleeves with broad lace falling over each shoulder The corsage à la Sevigné the drapery across the bust confined by a large brooch formed of a turquoise stone set round with rubies The hair arranged in very full curls the Apollo knot much elevated on the summit of the head with roses entwined among the bows Earrings of pearl and bracelets of turquoise stones and small rubies The waist of this dress is encircled by a zone pointed in front of turquoise blue silk AFTERNOON HOME DRESS A DRESS of lavender coloured gros de Naples with four flounce ornaments laid in puffings round the border bound with narrow rouleaux The corsage quite plain and tight to the shape sleeves à l Amadis with broad points at the wrists Canezou pelerine of fine India muslin trimmed with lace of a Vandyck pattern and fastened at the throat with a chrysolite brooch set round with pearls Hat of lavender gros de Naples with a rûche at the edge of the brim and the crown ornamented with blue and pink striped riband Yellow kid gloves and parasol of sea green GENERAL MONTHLY STATEMENT OF FASHION At this season of the year when the amusements and splendid costumes become fatiguing to the form and uninteresting to the sight we feel assured that our fair subscribers will be better pleased in perusing a faithful description of those light and grace ful fashions now adopted by our most elegant females belonging to the first circles of rank and fashion as we find them attired at their country seats and in the different scenes of gay animation at the various music meetings and other fêtes in the usual places of fashionable autumnal resort White dresses are at present almost universal they were in indeed so even during the late rains The borders have seldom
any other ornament than a very broad hem though sometimes a very deep flounce is preferred This when the dress is muslin is richly embroidered at the edge and from the head of the flounce bias stripes in a very beautiful though somewhat large pattern in vine or ivy leaves are worked on the dress When white muslin is worn as an evening dress it is of the finest Indian ma nufacture and is superbly embroidered in feather stitch These dresses are very expensive and are in consequence entirely con fined to the higher and more wealthy orders Broad sashes are usually worn with white gowns and are of the most gay and varied colours Coloured muslin dresses are much worn in demi parure and home costume they are sometimes printed in beau tiful patterns of hair stripes appearing as if finely pencilled in Indian ink others have the flounces trimmed with narrow braid ing of a conspicuously different shade to the muslin Silk dresses now are either of levantine or gros de Naples and gossamer summer satin is much in favour for the evening dress of married ladies and matrons these are trimmed with folds of white satin which when on a lavender or lilac dress have a very beautiful effect Coloured crapes over slips of white gros de Naples form the favourite dresses for music meetings and balls when given on particular occasions otherwise the summer ball dresses are in a very simple style White muslin Canezou spencers with the addition of a barêge scarf or a pelerine trimmed with lace are still favourite out door coverings yet silk pelisses and even mantles have already made their appearance and as the season advances will no doubt be more prevalent The pelisses are of unobtruding colours such as myrtle green and date leaf colour they are very ele gantly ornamented on each side of the bust with narrow em bossed rouleaux in fancy trimming They fasten down the front of the skirt with bows of riband the colour of the pelisse Silks of more lively hues are sometimes made partially low and a handsome double colerette of lace falls from the throat nearly to the bust but these pelisses are chiefly confined to the carriage for friendly visits or receiving friends at home The mantles are of sarcenet or levantine of cinnamon brown or Navarin smoke lined with rose colour Bonnets of gros de Naples are reckoned the most fashionable for the carriage and the promenade they are improved in shape especially from having the size rather diminished and they tie
down under the chin very becomingly in a bow on the right side White bonnets are often trimmed with ribands beautifully painted Some carriage hats are of white crape or stiffened net and are ornamented with oats which vibrate over the crown Bonnets of straw leghorn and coloured silk are often trimmed with bows of a broad rich riband the colour of the bonnet which is generally light variegated by one broad stripe of some very dark colour Dress hats for the evening are generally more adorned with feathers than flowers when with the former they are either inarabouts or very short ostrich plumage looking merely like the tips of feathers these however have a very pretty effect when tastefully disposed about the crown Beréts are much in favour for middle aged ladies at the evening or musical party they are often ornamented with gold and silver sprigs when for full dress The hair of young persons is very beautifully arranged partaking both of the Greek style and that observed in the pictures painted by Vandyck it is very seldom ornamented except at times is to be seen a comb the gallery of which is wrought in gold or set with three rows of pearls many very young ladies also at a rural ball will have a few small flowers very elegantly disposed among their tresses chiefly on the right side of the head but the hair charmingly dressed wants no addition to its native beauty and it is at this season most admired when totally un ornamented The most admired colours are date leaf cinnamon brown myrtle green celestial blue lavender pink and fawn colour

Plate and description appeared in the September 1828 edition of The Ladies’ Monthly Museum. Bringing the heat with another gravity defying hairstyle.

How much do I love the admired colours this month?  Date-leaf?  Cinnamon brown?  Myrtle green and celestial blue?  Combined with the fawn colour, we have all the ingredients for a hobbity fall flouncing around in our afternoon home dress and parasol, with ribands flowing in the September winds.

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