Carriage vs. Walking Dresses

Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject: Carriage vs. Walking Dresses

Candice, how do carriage dresses differ from walking dresses? Did they differ much from 1811 to 1820? Do you have images of sample prints I could see? Many thanks!
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Medieval & Regency Writer
keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 4:12 pm Post subject:

There is a difference. I'm dashing out of the house right now but will answer, with examples, later tonight.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 8:59 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Candice.
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Medieval & Regency Writer
keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:20 pm Post subject:

Note: I moved this topic to General Research since it did not involve a specific Collection.

I just did a litle more research, and frankly, there isn't much difference. In fact, many of my fashion prints are labeled "Walking or Carriage Dress." This is especially true during the winter months. Carriage costumes in all seasons generally included a pelisse or cape or something else to keep warm while inside the carriage. In the summer months, that might have been only a short spencer jacket. But there was always some sort of outer garment. Also, bonnets were more modest in size for a long carriage journey. You don't often see giant poke bonnets as part of a carriage costume.

Here is a sampling of Walking Dresses:

Note that prevalence of parasols as a standard accessory for a walking dress. The costume on the far right could easily double as a carriage dress, but the hat is way too big.

As for differences from 1812 to 1820 ... yes, there are lots of differences in the general style of dresses of all kinds. Let me quote from my "collections" article on prints of Walking Dresses 1816-1818:

"This is a period of fashionable excess. Dresses and outerwear are decorated as never before. No amount of embellishment is too much. Cord, ribbons, tassels, lace, ruffles, bows, artificial flowers, embroidery -- everything in abundance. The simple, classical lines of a decade earlier have all but disappeared beneath the weight of ornamentation. The increased popularity of embellished detail is clearly demonstrated as hem decorations -- lace, ribbons, cording, embroidery, and flounces (a deep gathered or pleated frill) -- crawl higher up the skirt and become more elaborate and fussy.

"Skirts have become slightly more conical, hinting at the bell-shape skirt to come later. Bodices are extremely high, though hem lengths have risen slightly, allowing a clear view of the slipper (and, of course, the well-turned ankle.)"

By the time you get to 1820, all of these aspects are more pronounced. Going backward toward 1812, everything is less pronounced, hems are longer, skirts more unstructured and drapey. Lots less ornamentation in 1812.

Hope that helps! If you need images of carriage or walking dresses from specific years, contact me privately and I will scan some to send you.
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Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:31 pm Post subject:

O History Guru. I'm overwhelmed that you wrote an entire essay in answer to my question. student

THANK YOU!

As I'm writing my outline, the years keep shifting back-n-forth by a year or so as I work in the details. Since the dress modes changed so significantly, I'll put in placeholders for now and get back to you via e-mail once I come to a firmer conclusion.

Whoops on the parasol. I had my H whacking the H with hers whilst on wheels.

Thank you so much once again!
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Medieval & Regency Writer
keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 11:05 pm Post subject:

That is so interesting! Wow, I'm stunned at how great the changes were.

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

A lot of the carriage dresses that I've seen are pretty much identical to riding habits, but without the trailing skirt of the habit (note, habits frequently had ties in them so that the excess length could be tied up for walking).
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-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com

Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:21 pm Post subject:

So basically they bustled them, like lots of women do with their wedding dress trains.

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 2:18 am Post subject:

Or carried the trains over one arm or tied it to a bracelet worn at one wrist.

Thanks for the additional note on habits v. walking v. carriage dresses.
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Medieval & Regency Writer
keirasoleore.blogspot.com

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

Very Interesting. I enjoy such learnings.

Michele