1812 August. Ball Dress, English. Dress with lower waistline than normal in the Empire period, pink laced bodice, with decorative sleeves, skirt with pink hem decoration, pink hat with pretty plume, and yellow gloves. Fashion Plate via John Belle’s ‘La Belle Assemblee’, London. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashion1810-1814

Definition: Ball Gown or Dress: From the early 19th century onwards, ball gowns were regularly illustrated and described in women’s magazines as minute distinctions between ball, dinner, evening and opera gowns. Ball gowns were of expensive silk fabrics, light or heavy, decorated with lace, embroidery or beading, with low-cut bodice, short or no sleeves, and a full skirt.