La Belle Assemblée, July 1811.
“Kensington Garden Fashionable Promenade Dress”
This is, to me, a somewhat odd and not very flattering ensemble, particularly the bodice, which resembles a suit of armor. The Bishop’s sleeves are seen throughout the Regency, but don’t work well, to my eye, with the complicated bodice. Despite my personal opinion, this must have been considered a very fashionable and pretty outfit for it to have been given a print in this popular magazine.
Note the gold quizzing glass hanging from a slender chain. Quizzing glasses are seen in fashion prints from the 1790s through to the early 20th century.
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“A round robe of white jaconet muslin, with a boddice of violet sarsnet, trimmed with rich silk Brandenburgs of Austrian green, a half pelisse of fine transparent muslin, with Bishop’s sleeves, fancifully tied with green ribband. A Hymen hat of purple brocaded ribband and lace, ornamented with a green military plume; a Chinese parasol of purple sarsnet, shot with green; gloves and shoes of York tan.”