La Belle Assemblée, July 1814.
“The Russian and Prussian Bonnet & Pelisse.
Invented & and to be had only of Mrs. Bell, removed to No. 26 Charlotte Street Bedford Square.”
In June 1814, the allied sovereigns came to London to celebrate the peace following the defeat of Napoleon in April. Two of the public favorites were Tsar Alexander I of Russia and King Frederick William III of Prussia. Like other famous visitors and war heroes, their names and countries found their way into the latest fashions. Mrs. Bell, the designer of this ensemble, was inspired by the spirit of victory in naming almost all her designs of this summer season,
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“RUSSIAN AND PRUSSIAN BONNET AND PELISSE, à la-Militaire. Jaconet muslin high dress, with a rich letting-in of lace and embroidery of the same materials round the bottom: the body and sleeves of this dress are richly appliqued with lace. A most delicate blue sarsnet pelisse, trimmed à la Prusse, either with crape or satin of a dark shade. The sleeves and the front of the pelisse are slightly ornamented in the same tasteful manner; the back is full, and fastens round the waist by a fancy military girdle; an appliqueing of crape, to correspond in colour with the pelisse, is let in round the bosom, and on each applique is a small satin flower. A rich lace ruff falls over. This walking costume is at present wholly confined to the highest class of our fair pedestrians, and we must say, it is equally distinguished for novelty and elegance; it also displays the figure to the greatest advantage. The captivated military bonnet which accompanies it, is highly characteristic of the elegant taste of the inventress: it bestows upon a pretty face that air which the French term piquant. We have observed of some hats which have formerly made their appearance under military appellations, that they gave a look of fierceness even to soft features: the reverse of this is the case with the Russian and Prussian Bonnet, which is one of the most generally becoming that we have ever seen.
“The above dresses were invented, and can be obtained exclusively of Mrs. Bell, the Inventress of the Ladies Chapeau Bras, removed to No. 26, Charlotte-street, Bedford-square.”