Ackermann’s Repository of Arts, May 1815.
“Evening Dress.”
I am intrigued by the hairdo in this print. It appears to be a short crop, but the text describes it as “crossed,” whatever that means.
The dress is quite short (which gives us a nice glimpse of the triple-strapped shoes) which we more typically see in prints labeled “Ball Dress,” ie a dress made for dancing. The shorter length of a dancing dress was, one assumes, to prevent tripping over a long hem while on the dance floor.
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“Pink silk frock, richly ornamented round the bottom with a deep border of garnet yewer [?], headed with a festoon of flowers; the body and sleeves trimmed with double rows of white satin; a small border of flowers let in on the shoulder; a full plaiting of blond lace round the neck. Gloves whited kid; shoes to correspond. The hair crossed, with full curls on the forehead and in the neck.”
