La Belle Assemblée, February 1812.
“Walking Dress.”
I offer up this print as a testament that not all Regency fashion was elegant. In my opinion, this entire costume is a hot mess. Too much going on, none of it flattering. I would classify it as a Regency Fashion Disaster. I leave it to you to read the description below and make your own judgment.
This print is described in the magazine as follows:
“WINTER WALKING DRESS. A scarlet merino cloth pelisse, lined with straw coloured sarsnet, trimmed with light coloured spotted fur, and attached with loops of black silk cordon and rich frog tassels; the broad fur in front, forming a tippet, pointed in the back. A narrow fur passes from the top of the sleeve, is brought down the side seams, and relieved by fastenings of black silk cordon; four loops with frogs ornament the shoulders and cuffs; plain standing up collar tied with cordon; a fine cashemire shawl, with brown ground and richly variegated border, is generally thrown over the dress in which is united in both comfort and elegance. A Swedish hat of the same material as the pelisse, lined with straw colour, and fastened up one side; the crown trimmed with two rows of narrow spotted fur, and one still narrower at the edge of the hat; a bunch of Christmas holly in front, and two tassels falling from the summit of the crown, of black, to answer the pelisse, which is worn over a white round dress, either of plain or corded cambric. Beaver gloves, and demi-broquins of scarlet Morocco, laced with black, and lined with fur, complete the dress.”
(The “Related Articles” noted below are all prints that I also would classify as Fashion Disasters. For your amusement.)
