Fashion Plates, June 1817

Illustration

Fashion Plates, June 1817

June 1817

Riding Dress

Fashion plates are important to historic fashion studies because they show the garment as it was meant to be worn. This fashion plate is from Lady’s Magazine or Entertaining Companion for the Fair Sex, June 1817; the magazine ran from 1770 to 1840 (Nevinson 1967). The fashion plate features a dark-colored “Riding Dress” with an empire waist accompanied by a flared ruff and an elaborate bonnet, both of which are indicative of the period. The figure is holding a riding crop indicating to the viewer that the outfit portrayed is meant to be worn while riding a horse.

The inscription states that “Mrs. Bell” was the inventor of the dress. An ad from a contemporary newspaper informs us that Mrs. Bell was the proprietor of Magazin des Modes at No. 26 Charlotte Street, Bedford Square, London. She was a milliner, dress, and corset maker (Allen 2020).

References

Allen, Louise. Jane Austen’s London. March 26, 2020. Available at: https://janeaustenslondon.com/tag/mrs-bell/

Nevinson, John L. Origin and Early History of the Fashion Plate. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Press, 1967. Available at: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/34472/34472-h/34472-h.htm

Donor: Elizabeth Brown

URI 2011.13.83N

Garrett Elderkin

Invented by Mrs. Bell

No. 6 Lady's Magazine. ____ June, 1817.