From Ackermann's Repository Vol III 1824
London fashions for April 1824
Dress of emerald green gros de Naples; corsage plain, and bordered at the top with a satin band of the same colour, and a narrow tucker of tulle: the sleeve is very short and full, and composed of crèpe lisse; the fulness regulated by pyramidal bands of gros de Naples, and finished in a double satin band round the arm. A very novel kind of flounce ornaments the bottom of the skirt, which is cut nearly a quarter of a yard up, and a fullness of crèpe lisse introduced, and formed into a regular row of demi-bells, the lower part kept extended by two statin pipings, and the top of each surmounted with a double satin circlet and a triplet of satin leaves appliquée. Fichu of crèpe lisse, edged with satin piping, and trimmed all round with narrow blond, confined at the shoulders with corded leaves, and arranged in front to form a stomacher, the points coming below the ceinture, which is also edged with satin and blond, and unites behind in a leaf rosette with the corner of the fichu. The hair is separated in front, and a pearl comb confines it on each side from the temple; round the back of the head it is arranged in large regular curls. Ear-rings and necklace of rubies. White kid gloves; white satin shoes; India shawl.
I find quite a bit to like in every fashion era. One thing I like about the early-mid 1820s is the move to a natural waistline, while retaining the hip-skimming skirt of the previous era. In a few years, the sleeves and skirt will start to pouf out, the prelude to the exaggerated shapes of the 1830s. For now, though, women are showing off their natural shapes.
One of us -- 
5 comments:
Beautiful dress! I really enjoy these fashion stories. So elegant, and not the same pictures that are reproduced over and over again in books. Is it only because I'm awfully far sighted that I notice her quizzing glass as a fashion accessory? (I was the one that saw the Frenchwoman's glasses too in an older blog so it must be me!)
When dresses went out of fashion back then (which seems to be fairly regularly) what happened to the old ones? Were they 'recycled' or altered into the new styles?
I can't imagine even the richest ladies simply throwing them away.
Such a lovely gown for a spring dinner! I like this one better than some of the others you've shown. It's less extreme, so I can actually imagine wearing it. Pretty, pretty, pretty.
Mme, I noticed the quizzing glass, too. I know they were fashionable accessories, but I'm sure they were the elegant alternative for other short-sighted ladies--one I would have appreciated!__ Pai, old clothes were one of the perquisites of servants, but very often beautiful gowns were simply stored away. Later, they might be taken apart and made into something else. They have at least one example of that at Colonial Williamsburg. Discarded gowns could be passed on to poor relations as well, and the simpler ones might be donated to charities. But sometimes the clothing simply went into a trunk and was kept for ages--and eventually donated to a museum.___ ILoveVErsailles, I do agree. While I love the nutty 1830s fashions, this seems like a wonderful point between the very girlish modes of the previous two decades and the more matronly looks of the second two thirds of the 19th century.
I wish that sort of dress was still in style, I agree that the more natural shapes of the Regency were lovely. Then the Victorians went a little crazy.
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