Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Fashions for April 1821

Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Loretta reports:

I especially love the little puffs on the shoulders of the carriage dress.

From the Lady’s Monthly Museum for April 1821.

~~~
THE
MIRROR OF FASHION
FOR APRIL, 1821.

CARRIAGE DRESS.
Pelisse of levantine of a bright mashmallow-blossom color, finished round the border with points folded back, from the material being placed over the lining; each point is terminated by a rich tassel à la ballon. The mancherons at the shoulders are formed of distinct puffs. A cravat scarf shawl, of pink raw silk, is generally worn with this pelisse, and a black bonnet, with oval puffings à I'Espagne on the brim, and points at the edge to correspond with the trimming on the pelisse: a rich plume of curled feathers is placed in front, with one feather depending over the right shoulder. Single Spanish ruff of lace, of a Vandycke pattern. Half-boots, of mashmallow-blossom, kid.

EVENING DRESS.
Round dress, of pearl-colored gossamer satin, trimmed with a broad ornamental border of embossed crape, or satin à l’antique. The stomacher is composed of fine lace of a novel form, and is pointed at the bottom of the waist in front. High tucker of fine broad lace. The hair arranged partly in the Greek and partly in the Parisian style, confined by a velvet bandeau across the forehead, where it is slightly separated, and crowned by a superb-diadem of apple-blossoms. Necklace and ear-rings of large oriental pearls. White satin slippers, white kid gloves, and white fan of figured tulle.

We have . . . been favored with the above elegant dresses by Miss Pierpoint, inventress of the Corset à la Grecque, 9, Henrietta-street, Covent-Garden.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Marshmallow blossom? Which garment? I didn't know there was such a plant . When I looked it up, the blossom is described as white over pink. Certainly never heard of that color before.

Philip Wilkinson said...

Golly, I used to work at No 9 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden! (I was an editor for a publishing house, not a manufacturer of Grecian corsets, I hasten to add.)

textilehistorIE said...

Sounds just gorgeous.

Cyn said...

Marshmallow is traditionally a light purple flower...wikiherbia has some lovely photos: http://www.abherbz.com/sites/default/files/marshmallow_0.jpg?1304511139

Kathy said...

The Olden-Days-ers didn't seem to name their fashionable colors after food, did they? No "mint green" or "peach" colored dresses. Instead we get flower-colors (good) and old-blood color of Puce (ick). You can see the comfortable Regency styles slowly morphing into the rigid, "big" Victorian clothing.

 
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