Morning Walking Dress, January 1813

…the face. Note that the purse is called a ridicule in the description. This is the term used in all the ladies magazines of the period, as far as I…

Carriage or Walking Dress, January 1812

…at this time, Polish styles remained fashionable. Note that the little purse is referred to as a “ridicule.” The bastardization of the term into “reticule” did not happen until the…

reticule

A lady’s purse. More properly called a ridicule, probably because it seemed a ridiculous notion in the late 18th/early 19th century to carry outside the dress those personal belongings formerly…

Brighton Sport

…which daily appear upon the ground, there is a constant display of Cyprian Fillies ready to start for any purse that may be offered.” – The Sporting Magazine, August 1800…

Carriage Costume, November 1817

La Belle Assemblée, November 1817. “Autumnal Carriage Pelisse and Bonnet.” Note that the purse is called a “ridicule.” In another 15 years or so, the term would be bastardized into…

Walking Dress, January 1810

…brim rising to a point above the forehead. Interestingly, the graduation or academic mortarboard is also called a trencher. Also note that the purse is called a ridicule. The term…

Half Dress, January 1812

…and appropriate costume we are indebted to the taste and invention of Mrs. Gill, of Cork-street, Burlington-gardens.” Note that the term ridicule is used for the purse. This term was…

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