Fashions of London and Paris, November 1803.
“Promenade Dresses”
I always think this print looks like one of the ladies has heard some sort of bad news and the other is offering her comfort. Or the lady on the left has scolded the lady on the right, who is not happy about it. Though, of course, they are just models posed by the artist, but it is fun to make up stories about them.
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“Fig. 1.–Plain dress of white or coloured muslin, with long sleeves. A cloak of blue velvet, lined with yellow silk, and trimmed all round with deep black lace. A bonnet of blue velvet, covered with lace.
“Fig. 2.–A short walking dress, of thick muslin. A military spencer of purple velvet, trimmed with silk cord. Purple velvet bonnet, ornamented with a white ostrich feather.”
This month’s General Observations includes the following:
“Cloaks have now wholly disappeared [and yet there is a cloak in this print!], and given place to spencers of every description; but the most fashionable is the military spencer, made of velvet. … The most favourite colours are blue, pink, purple, and yellow.”
