Dresses of April 1795 from The Gallery of Fashion | |
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Last update 7/1/03
This is the first issue of the second volume (Vol II, no. 1). The volumes run from April to March. In this issue, there are two plates and two pages of description. Plate one features figure 47 and is given no special title. Plate 1 is shown below in color. Plate 2 features figures 48, 49, and 50 and is shown below in color.
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Playing the harp became a craze for young ladies in the 1790s. The harp was thought to show off a lady's arms to great advantage. This harpist wears a spotted round gown with a simple ruffle at the hem. A handkerchief knotted around her neck keeps her chest warm. |
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Dresses. Figures 48, 49, and 50, April 1795. These three ladies all wear turbans trimmed with dyed plumes and jet ornaments. The lady on the left has a red overdress above a white stripped gown. Her plumes are dyed to match, and she carries a large ermine muff. The original description of her turban is to the right. The text continues to describe the dress as follows: "Petticoat of rich striped silk gauze. Polonoise [sic] of scarlet velver with Circassian sleeves, and full sleeves of striped silk gauze. Small muslin handkerchief within the belt. Gold chain round the neck. Pearl ear-rings. Ermine muff. White shoes." The lady in the center is in white muslin dress topped with a scarlet and black dress with jet bead clasps. One of her plumes is stripped with scarlet dye. The lady of the right is in a round gown of one piece, with a blue and white stripped collar and turban, with blue stripped plume. She has on matching gold cross pendant and earrings. |
Detail of figure 48. Original text reads "The hair dressed in ringlets. Chiffonet, arranged into the form of a turban, of white taffeta, spotted with silver; the end trimed with a silver fringe, falling upon the shoulder. Three white and two scarlet-coloured ostrich feathers; and five diamond pins, forming a star, placed in the front." |
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| Detail of figures 49 and 50. |
The original description of figure 49 reads: "The hair in small ringlets. Turban of coquelicot-coloured crape. [sic] Bandeau set with four rows of pearls, and a large pearl rosette in the middle. One white and one coquelicot and white striped ostrich feather in the front, inclining forwards. Chignon turned up under the turban, and the ends turned over in three small curls of different lengths. Lawn petticoat, trimmed with a narrow fringe, headed at some distance by a plait. Robe of coquelicot-coloured Irish poplin, black velvet cuffs, and capuchin cap trimmed with a broad white silk chain. The robe fastened by a clasp, set with pearls. Small muslin handkerchief within the robe. Pearl necklace and ear-rings. White shoes." Figure 50 is described as follows. "Hair dressed in ringlets. Bandeau and chiffonet of blue and white striped muslin. The bandeau crossed with pearls. One blue, and one blue and white striped ostrich feather on the left side. Chemise of spotted muslin with a narrow flounce, and a plaiting round the neck, headed with a blue riband; the sleeves tied in three parts with the same riband. Handkerchief within the chemise. Blue sash. Gold cross, necklace, and ear-rings. White shoes." |
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