La Belle Assemblée, June 1813.
“Afternoon Promenade Dress”
This is one of those simple white dresses that is actually not as simple as it looks. It includes a white spencer jacket that appears to be part of the dress, and was in fact designed to match the dress.
I love the Johnston parasol here, though I have no idea who it was named after. Or perhaps Johnston was the manufacturer?
One of the things that sets La Belle AssemblĂ©e prints apart from those of Ackermann’s Repository is that the figures are often set against lovely backgrounds. Here we have a seaside scene with cliffs and sailing vessels in the background.
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“Short dress of jaconet muslin, made rather scantier in the skirt than they have been worn, and cut down as much a possible all round the bosom and back of the neck. The body is full, but drawn in at the top of the back, which is ornamented with a white silk button, and confined to the waist by a girdle of rich white figured ribband; a jacket of the same materials as the gown, fastened to the waist by a white silk button, completes this truly elegant dress, which is unequalled for tasteful simplicity. Over this our fair pedestrians throw a sky-blue scarf. Bonnet of white willow shavings, ornamented with a flower and wreath of sky-blue, tied under the chin with a ribband to correspond. Hair dress in very loose curls on each side of the temple, and divided very much in front. Gloves and sandals of sky-blue kid. Necklace and ear-rings of white cornelian. Johnston parasol. This elegant appendage to the walking costume is also of sky-blue silk, and finished with a rich and deep fringe; it has very recently made its appearance, and is already a general favourite.”