Le Beau Monde, October 1807.
“Morning Walking and Riding Dresses.”
It is unusual to see a gentleman wearing pantaloons without boots, as shown on the left figure. They are described as being made with “gaiter bottoms” which appear to cover the whole foot, like a pair of tights. It is more typical to see pantaloons worn with Hessian boots. (Top boots, as seen on the right figure, are almost always shown with breeches.) If shoes are worn with gaiters, usually with trousers, the gaiters are separate articles, not attached to the trousers. As this is the only print I have come across with gaiters as part of the pantaloons, I suspect this was not a popular style with fashionable gentlemen.
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“Fig. No. 1.–MORNING DRESS.–Drab coloured cloth coat, single-breasted, with pantaloons to match; and for the sake of avoiding the weight or incumbrance of boots, are made with gaiter bottoms entire, and which, with the addition of a striped waistcoat, has most undoubtedly a very genteel appearance.
“Fig. No. 2.–A single-breasted coat of a darkish green or green mixtures, with a collar of the same cloth, and plated buttons; light coloured striped waistcoat, single breasted, and light drab colour or leather breeches, with brown top boots.”
The print is signed by the engraver, William Read, a popular London engraver from the early 19th century through the 1840s, whose work is often seen in this magazine.
