Court Dress
Court Dresses, Overview
When ladies (and gentlemen) appeared at Court on formal occasions they were required to wear Court Dress, which was a very formal, very specific type of garment that was not worn anywhere else.... Read More →
Court Dress, February 1797
"White crape petticoat, magnificently embroidered in purple, black, and gold; deep white fringe, headed by a black velvet ribband, ornamented with gold tassels... Read More →
Court Dress, July 1797
"Petticoat of yellow crape, with a border of white crape, embroidered in festoons of laurels and roses, and a deep silver fringe; drapery of white crape; the whole ornamented with festoons of roses... Read More →
Court Dress, May 1798
"The Petticoat of white Crape, embroidered with Silver; the Drapery of buff coloured Crape, edged with a wreath of variegated Leaves drawn up by silver Cord or Chains, with Tassels. The Body and Train of buff Sarsnet. The Ruffles and Lappets of Lace of Blond.... Read More →
Court Dress, January 1799
"An exact representation of the rich and beautiful dress worn by the Princess Augusta on the late Birth Day. It consisted of a white crape petticoat, richly embroidered with gold... Read More →
Court Dress, June 1799
"Her Royal Highness was arrayed in a blue crape petticoat, richly embroidered with silver spangles in waved stripes, from the bottom of the left, to the top of the right corner of the coat, with rays of spangles darting from each side of the stripes.... Read More →
French Gentleman’s Court Dress, February 1805
Court dress for men at both the English at French courts had long favored elaborately decorated military uniforms. But even for men who were not entitled to wear military uniforms, the prescribed court dress has a very military style... Read More →
French Court Dress, April 1805
The high-standing color, called a Médicis collar, harkened back to the ancien régime, while the high waist and short puffed sleeves are very much a modern style, which soon became known as the empire... Read More →
Court Dress, January 1807
"The hair dressed in natural curls round the face, with a coronet, bandeau, or other ornament in gold--feathers of every kind. The body, sleeves, and petticoat, of rich, full-coloured satin or velvet: the draperies of gauze or tiffany spotted with gold embroidery... Read More →
Court Dress, July 1807
"The body and ground of the drapery was formed of a rich silver and lilac tissue, with a most superb border, composed of emeralds, topazes, and amethysts, to represent the vine-leaf and grapes.... Read More →
Court Dress, July 1808
A bright primrose-coloured sarsnet petticoat trimmed full round the bottom with point lace, and a rich drapery of the same, most tastefully festooned with diamond chains, and ostrich feathers in the form of the Prince's plume reversed.... Read More →
Court Dress, July 1810
"A lilac sarsnet train and petticoat, covered with silver net lace; the drapery of white crape, tastefully looped up in a bow with diamonds on the left side; the bottom of the petticoat, drapery, and train trimmed with a rich point lace;... Read More →
French Court Dress, July 1814
This court dress shows a trained robe over a dress, both appearing to be white satin and trimmed with gold fringe, with lace lappets hanging from the hair, and the traditional white plumes... Read More →
French Court Dress, April 1817
"White satin petticoat, bordered with a rich work in silver lama of grapes and vine leaves. Body of silver tissue, with short sleeves of crape, ornamented with pearls. Falling tucker of crape, three rows, to correspond with the sleeves.... Read More →