1802 Jane Austen Style Riding Habit, French. Blue riding habit made of castor, worn with a Fichu of white lace to cover her chest and preserve her modesty and carrying a long riding whip. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costume Parisien.

Riding Habit: Early 1800s riding habits still copied men’s riding fashion and usually made by male tailors. They were often a close-fitting jacket worn over a shirt, or with a fichu covering the neck. A skirt with train had either a waistband or straps over the shoulders to keep it in place. Sometimes, habits were made in one piece with the skirt and bodice joined.