Ackermann’s Repository of Arts, November 1811.
“Walking Dress”
This gorgeous pelisse, called here a Hussar coat, shows the influence of military style on ladies’ fashion. Though it is described as salmon-colored, every version of this print I’ve seen shows the brownish color seen here. It is open from the waist to give us a glimpse of the beautiful ermine lining, but you can see that the frogs go all the way down the front, to the bottom of the coat.
In the description below, we see another instance of the purse referred to as a ridicule. The more well-known bastardized version of the word, reticule, did not come into general use until around 1830.
The print is described in the magazine as follows:
“A simple French high frock of cambric, with small tucks round the bottom. An hussar coat of fine salmon-colour merino cloth, ornamented on each side with dark silk frogs, and lined and trimmed with skin. A military helmet cap, composed of the same materials, and decorated on the left side with a single curled ostrich feather. Half-boots of salmon-coloured kid; and ridicule of corresponding velvet, with lion spring snap of gold. Gloves of Limerick or pale lemon-coloured kid.”
