Fashion Plate, March 1806

John Bell (1745-1831) began publishing La Belle Assemblée in London in 1806. The fashion images were engraved on copper plates and then printed on paper, which gave them the name “fashion plates”. Initially Bell’s plates were without color; later they were hand colored individually.

This fashion plate is from the month of March in the first year of the magazine’s publication. Three women in the latest French fashions are presented along with four bonnets. The woman on the left is wearing a dotted dress with dense ruffles. The figured shawl and straw bonnet imply that this ensemble was meant to show attire suitable for walking. The middle figure also has a shawl to wear over her high-waisted Neoclassical dress. The women on the right is in evening dress with a low neckline and trained skirt. Her jewelry consists of pearl necklace and headpiece, both with large stones in the center. Her ears are garnished with dangling crystal earrings. Each figure is numbered to correspond to a description in the magazine.