La Belle Assemblée, March 1811.
“Morning Carriage Dress”
This is clearly a dress and not a pelisse over a dress, as seen in most carriage costumes. The waistline is rather low for this period, though in general more fluctuation is seen in day wear than in evening wear, when waistlines are almost universally high.
I am always in awe of the colorists who had to paint a patterned fabric. Look how beautifully the thin stripes are painted here, with the direction of the stripes appropriately changed for skirt, left and right bodice, and sleeves.
And isn’t the shawl gorgeous?
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“A bias corded muslin dress, a walking length, with long sleeves, made high in the neck, with collar; buttoned down the front of the waist with narrow lilac satin ribband. Sash tied in a bow in front; a border of plain muslin, or lace, round the bottom. A square of lilac satin, with richly embroidered border in white silk, and tassels to correspond, is thrown over the shoulders in the form of a shawl, and is cur down the back to give it a more easy and graceful appearance about the figure. A simple white chip hat, tied round the crown in a bow in front of lilac satin ribband. The hair in full curls over the forehead. Pearl earrings. Gloves and shoes of pale lemon, or lilac coloured kid.”
Beneath the print it says: Miss Blacklin invenit.
