British Lady’s Magazine, May 1819.
“Ball Dress.”
Note that the silhouette of the skirt is fully bell-shaped by this time. Hemlines have become shorter in these last years of the Regency, and ball dresses are always shown shorter than other evening dresses. It is not clear if ball dresses were actually this much shorter, making is easier to dance, or simply drawn that way in fashion prints, sometimes to show off special slippers or clocked stockings.
The heavily ornamented flounce at the hemline is typical of this late period as well.
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“BALL DRESS of white lace, worn over a satin slip. The skirt finished at the bottom with superb trimming of lace confined with pipings of blue satin, at equal distances, surmounted by a wreath of full roses. Bodice rather full. Sleeves of lace confined with pipings of blue satin, and edged at the bottom with the same. Head-dress, bands of blue satin, and wreath of flowers worn rather lower than usual. Gloves, white kid, and white satin slippers.”
