Regency Era Fashion Chit Chat - August 1817 Ladies' Monthly Museum

Regency Era Fashion Chit Chat - August 1817 Ladies' Monthly Museum

Costumes Parisiennes

Morning Dresses are made of Perkale, jaconaut muslin, and muslinet; Dinner Dresses, of Perkale and sprigged muslin; and Full Dresses for evening parties, of fine clear muslin, or gauze and tulle. The Morning and Dinner Dresses are made alike; and consist of high gowns and collars, open in front to show the throat, with a very short waist, the body loose behind, and confined to the waist by a band; the front made tight to the shape. The sleeves are worn long, and either of a moderate fullness, or tight to the arm, with bouillons of clear muslin, let in down or across the arm; the bouillons are sometimes twisted in the form of a serpent, with a narrow flounce running along each division. When plain long sleeves are preferred, they are finished at bottom by three tucks, and have a roll of muslin across the wrist, and mostly a small half-sleeve over, ornamented with corresponding tucks. A broad pelerine, trimmed with work or lace to correspond with the bottom of the dress, is occasionally affixed to it: the pelerine descends below the waist before and behind; and, by tying a sash over it, forms a jacket. The skirts of dresses are made as wide at top as bottom; and much narrower than usual, but not so tight as formerly. The trimming is much varied; mostly high, with narrow flounces, cut in small scollops, and overcast or finished with fine edging; others have tucks and rolls, of clear muslin, intermixed, and thrown into the form of a cork-screw. Embroidery is in vogue; but lace is entirely out of use.

The Evening Dress is a plain round gown, made short in the waist, and cut low all round the bust: the body is full; but so short as to be entirely concealed by a cestus of white satin, which forms a full rose at the back of the waist: it is disposed in folds in front, and fastened down in the middle by a brilliant ornament. The sleeve, which is made very short, has a triple edging of satin, fancifully disposed like a cork-screw. The trimming of the skirt has the same ornament of satin, with bouillons attached.