La Belle Assemblée, May 1815.
“Evening Dress.”
The provenance beneath the print notes that this elegant ensemble was “invented” by Mrs. Bell. The dress is quite striking and somewhat unusual. The sleeves are especially unique. The dress is described as pearl gray, though every copy of this print I’ve seen shows the dress as blue. The turban is rather spectacular with a triple band of pearls, tassels made of pearls, and the whole thing wrapped in pearls.
Note the closed fan in her hand. It might appear unusually tiny, but it is not an exaggeration (like the ridiculously tiny feet). Fans during the Regency were much smaller than the previous period and the subsequent period. I believe the smaller size was a result of the narrow silhouette of Regency fashion which could no longer accommodate bulky pockets beneath the skirts, where larger fans could have been easily tucked away. Regency ladies had to carry them in small reticules.
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“Castillian robe of pearl grey sarsnet, elegantly trimmed with pink satin, interspersed with crape and velvet; the petticoat worn under the dress is finished by a border of fine lace, which just appears below the robe; the sleeves are of fine figured net, with serpentine waves of rolled pink satin, continued close to the wrist, from whence depend two broad frills of blond made to fall over the knuckles. A fichu of the finest net, left open in front, and ornamented by a deep Spanish ruff, standing up à-l’Elizabeth. Crown turban of white satin, net, and pearls, with tassels of the latter material, and crowned near the summit with a wreath of pink fancy flowers and pearls. Pear pearl earrings, white crape fan, and white satin shoes.”
