Dresses of July 1796 from The Gallery of Fashion

This is the fourth issue of the third volume (Vol III, no. 4). The volumes run from April to March. In this issue, there are two plates and two pages of description. Plate one features figures 104 and 105. Plate 1 is shown below in greyscale. Plate 2 is figure 106 of court dress, shown below in color.

Figures 104 and 105, Two ladies are at the pianoforte. The standing lady (figure 104) wears a simple dress and cap, while the seated lady (figure 105) wears a dress with lace trim at the neck and on the sleeve. The seated lady also wears a headdress of flowers. Both ladies wear long white gloves. Figure 104 is labelled "Morning Dress" while figure 105 is labelled "Afternoon Dress." Original Text reads as follows: MORNING DRESS. FIG. CIV. The front and side hair combed straight; the hind hair in ringlets. Foundling cap of clear muslin, trimmed with rose-coloured riband in small round puffs; large bow in front, and a small one behind. Round gown of light green muslin, trimmed with an apple-green riband. Short full puckered sleeves. Sash of apple-green riband. Straw-coloured gloves. Narrow white lace ruff round the neck. Large hoop gold ear-rings. Light yellow shoes. AFTERNOON DRESS. FIG. CV. The toupee in small curls; the hind hair turned up in four small loops, the ends returned in ringlets, crossed in two parts with a silver riband, and looped with a large diamond pin; a wreath and bouquet of flowers in the toupee. Round gown of white clear muslin; chemise sleeves, festooned with lace, and tied with riband; braided back, bound round the neck with a broad white riband, and a plaiting of lace. White silk shoes. Diamond ear-rings.

Figure 106. This court dress is worn with three plumes, two of which are dyed to match the colors of the dress. A fringed overdress (called a petticoat in the description below) reveals a spangled "body" or basic skirt below it. The overdress is trimmed with artificial roses, while the underskirt is trimmed with twisted ribbon. A border of rosettes extends around the hem on both overdress and petticoat. Original Text reads as follows: COURT DRESS. FIG. CVI. The hair dressed into a small toupee. Chiffonet of lilac tiffany, crossed and tied on the left side with silver cord and tassels. One yellow, one lilac, and one white ostrich feather; a stem of laurel leaves in green foil; and a diamond pin in the front. Petticoat of white crape, trimmed also with a lilac and silver fringe; festoons of flowers, and yellow and lilac taffeta; four large bows of broad lilac satin riband, tied up with silver cords and tassels. Body and train of lilac tiffany, spotted with silver; double plaiting of blonde round the neck and sleeves. Silver girdle. Diamond necklace and ear-rings. Bell lappets of white blonde. Yellow silk shoes, embroidered in silver.

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