Fashions of London and Paris, March 1800.
“London March 1800.”
The lady on the right is carrying an excellent example of a typical reticule at this time: a draw-string bag with tassels along the bottom, held by a cord or ribbon. Note that the description calls it an “indispensible.” That term is seen in fashion plates from other magazines from the late 1790s through around 1800. After that time, the French term “ridicule” is used in all British ladies’ magazines through the mid-1820s. After that time, the French term is bastardized to the more familiar “reticule.”
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“Fig.1. The Georgian half dress, of white muslin, made high in the neck, with a collar, and trimmed with lace; the binding of elastic coloured velvet. The cloak or shawl, of pink satin, covered, or not covered, with white crape, and trimmed with black lace.
“Fig. 2. The Aerial dress, made of white muslin, the body plain, and trimmed round the bosom with lace; the sleeves of lace and muslin. The drapery goes over the left shoulder, and fastens in different parts with gold or silver sliders, or diamonds; gold or silver trimmings round the bottom. Indispensible, gold chain, necklace, &c. Turban of white crape, fastened in front to correspond with the dress. White ostrich feather fixed behind, and falling over the front.”
