Journal des Dames et des Modes, Paris, December 26, 1801
“Chapeau de Velolurs. Spencer de Drap.”
This early French print includes some lovely fashion details. The wool spencer is cut high in the back, showing the gathering at the back of the dress. For the next few years, the back of dresses tended to be quite full. And walking dresses at this time typically had short trains, as here. Since most dresses were white, one can only imagine the state of these long hemlines when worn outdoors.
The brief text in the magazine mentions that some spencers are made with a standing collar in the form of a jockey’s riding coat. This one does indeed show the sort of tailoring one would see in a riding habit. The velvet hat is also in a style known in England as a jockey cap.
The large ridicule, as it as called in the magazine (and in England at this time — the term reticule didn’t come into popular use until the 1820s) is described as scalloped-edged tulle. This example is a bit larger than most ridicules seen in fashion prints, but the the style of an open top gathered with long loops of cord or ribbon used as handles is very typical, and continues to be seen throughout the century. I suspect it was featured so prominently in the print in order to provide the home seamstress with a good notion of the scalloped shape. Ladies, or their dressmakers, often made their own ridicules to match a specific ensemble,
In Lady Ann's Excellent Adventure, Annie wears a spencer and matching bonnet during her adventure with Will.
