La Belle Assemblée, March 1812.
“Morning Dress.”
The description calls this a “Morning or Home Costume,” which generally indicates a casual, loosely comfortable dress worn in the privacy of one’s home with one’s family, but expecting no visitors. This dress suggests that it might, in fact, be a bit more appropriate for receiving visitors, as it has a train and rather fancy short sleeves. She is also wearing opals and silk stockings with lace clocks. Perhaps she simply likes to look her best, even at home with the family. It does, though, look as if she is painting pictures. I certainly wouldn’t want to get this pretty white dress splattered with paint!
The waistline is a bit lower than is typical. But for the next few years, waists do go up and down a bit. But by 1812, waists are consistently very high.
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“MORNING OR HOME COSTUME. A white cambric frock, with a demi train; short sleeves fastened up in front with cordon and tassels; a necklace formed of two rows of opal; the hair dressed in full curls, and confined by a demi-turban of very fine muslin tied on the right side with a small bow; silk stockings with lace clocks, richly brocaded, and plain black kid slippers.”
