Lady's Monthly Museum, April 1812

THERE was a time when in catering for our subscribers in this department, a very few words would suffice; in those times a dull uniformity pervaded their habiliments, a sombre colour dealt out a universal monotony; dress reigned in all frippery of gauze and powder, and our task was comparatively light and easy; but now that the couturiéres have availed themselves of the Grecian costume, the true standard of taste; now that they have had recourse to the artist and the antiquary, who have not disdained to render their assistance, what elegance has appeared! Unconfined even to the statues of antiquity, the genus of dress roves in endless variety; she steals her hues from the rainbow, and the whole habitable world is ransacked for bodily adornment. The wool of Cachimere, [sic] the turban of the east, and the plaid of the north, lend their assistance, while the Turk, the Pole, and the Indian, lay their treasures at the feet of the fair.

Our plates therefore, aided by proper assistance, cannot fail to introduce such an elegance of attire to our readers, as will, we trust, be worth their imitation.

The engraving of the fashionable plate annexed, is only a specimen of that excellence at which we have no doubt of arriving. This department of our work, we acknowledge, with contrition, has been too much neglected; but the arrangements which have now been made with one of the first artists in articles of female embellishment, allows us to hope, that our magazine for May will introduce to our subscribers specimens of fashion, far superior to any similar work of this kind, and will even rival those of the most expensive publications. The Fashions for the future will be drawn by a professional person, from the dresses themselves, by permission of Mrs. OSGOOD, the maker, of Lower Brook street, Grosvenor square; a lady who has kindly offered us every assistance; of the elegance of her taste, her works, while the pupil of Madame Lanchester, and since she has left that lady, are too well appreciated by every woman of fashion to need any comment here.

The Full Dress, for this month, is made of white satin, ornamented round the bottom with a rich Grecian border, over which is worn a tunic of yellow Italian gauze, trimmed with deep white lace, and fastened up the front with cord of blue silk. Head dress à la Diana, ornamented with wreathes of artificial flowers in dead gold, with a crescent in front of the forehead, composed of pearls and sapphire; the necklace and ear rings to correspond; kid gloves and shoes of pale pink.