Post-Regency spring fashion – walking dress

This series of fashion blogs takes a final look at outdoor wear, this time in the post-Regency period, using the fashion pages from La Belle Assemblée in 1823 and 1827.

Walking dresses in the reign of George IV
from La Belle Assemblée (1823 and 1827)

Spring 1823

“The braided pelisses, which were but partially patronized on their first appearance, are now in high favour with those ladies of rank who may be said to lead the fashions, and we, this month, present a specimen of this most appropriate and elegant out-door envelope to our subscribers.”

Walking dress
 from La Belle Assemblée (Jan 1823)

“Over a round-dress of milk white bombazine or Norwich crape, is a close pelisse of puce colored cashmere, ornamented down the front and round the border with a peculiarly rich braiding in silk, the flowers of which represent the Caledonian thistle; two beautiful long branches of the same braiding rise from the points that terminate the bottom of the facings, and form a superb ornament in front, one each side of the border. The ornaments across the bust consist of a braiding in foliage only; but it has a very rich appearance, being composed of several rows reaching across the front to the forepart of each shoulder. The mancherons are plain, and are almost close to the sleeve; these are finished with one row of leaves in braiding.

A belt of black velvet, fastened in front with a polished steel buckle, confines the pelisse round the waist. The bonnet is of puce colored velvet, lined with white satin, and crowned with a plume of white ostrich feathers: a veil of Chantilly lace is thrown carelessly across the brim of the bonnet, but this is not always adopted; the bonnet is of a charming shape and becoming size, to our ideas better without the veil, especially at this season of the year, though much depends on fancy. A single frill of the finest Mechlin lace is worn round the throat; a muff of the white Siberian fox, with half-boots of puce-colored kid, and light doe-skin gloves, finish this promenade dress, in which is combined richness, elegance and simplicity.”
Bombazine is a twilled or corded dress fabric that was originally made of silk or wool and silk.
There seems to be some variety in the actual shade of puce, but it is generally a dark purple or brownish purple colour.
"Mancherons" are small, short sleeves or ornamental trimmings on the upper part of the sleeve.

Spring 1827

Walking dress (left) and morning dress (right)
 from La Belle Assemblée (Jan 1827)

Walking dress (on the left):
“A high pelisse-dress of slate-coloured gros de Naples, with a broad border, formed of twisted rouleaux, set on in bias stripes at separate distances, and confined above and beneath under a rouleau, which two rouleaux cross the skirt, and complete the border; the sleeves loose, with mancherons formed of double scallops trimmed round with quilling of gros de naples, pinked. A pelerine cape, the same as the dress, fastens behind, and is finished by a narrow falling collar of the same; above which is tied round the throat a pink silk sautoir. Under a plain black velvet bonnet is worn a cornette of British lace, ornamented with full-blown roses.”

"Gros de Naples" is a heavy silk with a dull finish.
"Rouleaux" are rolls or coils of ribbon or other material.

A quilling is a piece of quilled lace or other fabric used as a trim.
A pelerine cape is a lady's cape, often made of fur, but here made to match the dress, which tapers to long points in the front.
A sautoir is a long chain or beaded necklace, usually worn like a scarf, which was designed to imitate military braids or chains.
A cornette is a type of head covering. My research suggests that this was a type of wimple, usually made of starched white material, with long tails that could be tied up, left free or folded upwards to represent horns!

Walking dress
 from La Belle Assemblée (Mar 1827)

“This dress, though apparently second, or fancy-mourning, is still in high favour, and is the last novelty we may look for in the pelisse department, till the approaching spring. It is of French grey gros de Naples, fancifully trimmed round the border, and down each side of the front, in diamonds and zig-zags of black velvet: a double row of these ornaments is carried down each side of the bust, in the Anglo-Greek style. The sleeves are only moderately full, with a double row of antique points at the wrists, edged round with narrow black velvet. The pelisse is without a collar, and is finished at the throat by a triple ruff of fine lace. The bonnet worn with this dress is of a correspondent colour: it is gros de Naples, and trimmed with large bows and puffs of the same, with broad strings of ribbon in shaded stripes, floating loose. Black kid slippers, white doe-skin gloves. Round the neck is worn a gold chain with an eye-glass.”

My observations

Note the change in the shape of the sleeves and the increasingly large hats. I love the inclusion of the eye-glass as an accessory to the last outfit.

Sources used include:
Bell, John, La Belle Assemblée, various (1823, 1827)