La Belle Assemblée, January 1813.
“Walking Dress.”
Though this looks like a pelisse, it is actually a dress of winter wool. It is said to be made “a walking length,” which means it’s a bit shorter than a few years earlier, just about ankle length, so that the skirt no longer drags the ground, gathering dirt.
There is no mention of the adorable little reticule that looks like a small basket.
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“High dress of light ruby merino cloth, made very tight in the shape to the body, and the waist rather longer than last month; back very broad. Made up to the throat, but no collar; it buttons in front from the throat to the waist, and is finished at the waist by a broad band of rich fancy ribband of a very dark bottle green, slightly shot with ruby; tow rows of the same ribband goes round the bottom of the dress, which is made walking length. A long sleeve, easy but not very wide, is also finished at the cuff with the same ribband, considerably broader than the trimming; round the throat is likewise a binding of the same, which displays a rich lace shirt, with a collar also of lace put on quite plain. White satin cap, with a rich broad lace quilling in front, which turns up, and tied under the chin by a white lace handkerchief. A white lace veil which reaches to the shoulder, is thrown carelessly over. York tan gloves, and black kid half boots.”
