1816 November. A lilac and white striped gauze dress over a white satin slip; the bottom of the skirt is ornamented with five rows of white silk trimming, of a very light and elegant description: it has just been introduced, and the patterns has more novelty than any thing we have seen for some time; a single flounce of deep blond lace completes the trimming. The body is also very novel; the upper part is formed of lace, and the lower of gauze, to correspond with the dress; the latter is quite tight to the shape, but the former has an easy fullness, which forms the shape in a manner extremely advantageous to the figure. The sleeve is short and very full; it is composed of lace, looped high, and finished by a trimming to correspond with that of the skirt. The hair is full dressed, without any ornament. Necklace, cross, armlets, and bracelets of rubies. White satin slippers, and white kid gloves.Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’.

Gorgeous Regency Era clothing came in a wide range of styles to suit every season and occasion. Ladies in Jane Austen’s times wore Empire style dresses which were usually of light fabric and floaty in style. By the later 1810s, stripes were very popular and lace and frills were added to make the dress more individual.