The Repository Of Arts Archives - Page 4 of 8

Jane Austen fan? Women’s dress styles around 1800. History Notes Book 12. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #nonfiction

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Suzi LoveJuly 30, 2026

Fashion Women 1800 By Suzi Love History Notes Book 12 #Regency #Fashion Love gorgeous historical women’s fashions? Take a look at what women wore and carried in 1800 in Europe and around the world. books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1800

Women’s dress changed dramatically after 1785. The rich fabrics and complicated, formal shapes of the late 18th century gave way to simple, light fabrics that draped easily. These new gowns achieved something of the effect of the simple tunics shown on classical Greek and Roman statues and vases. Inspired in part by the statuary of ancient Greece and Rome, the new fashion was epitomised by light cotton gowns falling around the body in an unstructured way, held around the high waist with a simple sash and accompanied by a soft shawl draped around exposed shoulders. This style was ideal for the Indian imports like Kashmiri shawls and Bengali muslin, as used in this embroidered gown. Championed by such influential figures as Emma Hamilton in England and Madame Récamier in France, the so-called ‘Empire’ style catapulted Indian muslin into the forefront of fashion.
Empire Dress: Owes its name, physical emancipation, popularity, and even its sexiness to France. In this English example, French style is slavishly followed in the gown’s high waist and modish stripes.
Empire style, or early 1800s, high-waisted dresses made it impossible to either sewn in a pocket or to tie on a pocket. So women began carrying small, decorated bags called Reticules, or ridicules, which generally pulled close at the top with a drawstring.
Inspired in part by the statuary of ancient Greece and Rome, the new fashion was epitomised by light cotton gowns falling around the body in an unstructured way, held around the high waist with a simple sash and accompanied by a soft shawl draped around exposed shoulders. This style was ideal for the Indian imports like Kashmiri shawls and Bengali muslin, as used in this embroidered gown. Championed by such influential figures as Emma Hamilton in England and Madame Récamier in France, the so-called ‘Empire’ style catapulted Indian muslin into the forefront of fashion.

Jane Austen fan? Women’s dress styles around 1800. History Notes Book 12. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #nonfiction books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1800

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1812 May Pink Walking Dress With Coat in Jane Austen Style. #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #HistoricalFashion

Posted on July 21, 2026 by Suzi LoveJuly 20, 2026

1812 May Pink Walking Dress, English. Coat is called a ‘Spencer Robe’ in the description and the fabric is sarcenet in blossom color. High collar, bobble decoration on the hem, pink sleeveless pelisse dress trimmed with a tufted Chinese silk fringe. The deep vandyke black lace is a loose Polonaise style that sits over the collar of the white muslin dress. The provincial muslin bonnet has two curled white ostrich feathers on the front. Half-boots are of pink kid, gloves are lemon or pale tan kid, and pink reticule, or ridicule or bag, has a drawstring. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’.

Definition Pelisse, Redingote, Or Walking Dress: Jane Austen and her contemporaries wore long coats like these to keep warm when out and about, visiting, shopping etc. The thin muslin dresses worn in the early 1800s were little protection against European winters.

Definition Reticule Or Ridicule Or Bag Or Purse: Because reticules were so popular, Jane Austen and her family and friends would have made reticules for each other for gifts and carried these small purses with them whenever they went out.

Definition Aigret, Aigrette, Egret: Plume of feathers or jeweled ornament in shape of feathers worn on head or hats. During the early 19th century., or Jane Austen’s lifetime, the favorite feathers were osprey and heron.

1812 May Pink Walking Dress, English. Coat is called a ‘Spencer Robe’ in the description and the fabric is sarcenet in blossom color. High collar, bobble decoration on the hem, pink sleeveless pelisse dress trimmed with a tufted Chinese silk fringe. The deep vandyke black lace is a loose Polonaise style that sits over the collar of the white muslin dress. The provincial muslin bonnet has two curled white ostrich feathers on the front. Half-boots are of pink kid, gloves are lemon or pale tan kid, and pink reticule, or ridicule or bag, has a drawstring. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann's 'The Repository of Arts'.

1812 May Pink Walking Dress With Coat in Jane Austen Style. #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #HistoricalFashion https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashion1810-1814

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1821 December High-Waisted Green Promenade Dress, Or Pelisse, English. #Regency #Fashion #Pelisse

Posted on July 15, 2026 by Suzi LoveJuly 12, 2026

1821 December Green Promenade Dress, English. High waisted coat over white dress with ruffled collar, vertical front bows, short puffed sleeves over long straight sleeves, matching ruffled bonnet and yellow gloves. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’, London, U.K.

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1809 October Jane Austen Style Blue Ball Dress and Diamond Bandeau, English. #RegencyFashion #HistoricalFashion #JaneAusten

Posted on July 5, 2026 by Suzi LoveJune 27, 2026

1809 October Blue Ball Dress, English. A light blue, or grey chemise robe, of gossamer net, imperial crape, worn over white satin, ornamented up the front with French bows and knots of silver. A full melon sleeve, formed of the same material as the dress, and alternate stripes of white satin, finished with bows and knots of silver. A double roll of white satin around the neck by way of a tucker. Hair falling in natural and irregular curls on the forehead, confined in a bow and curled ends, or in plaited braids, at the back of the head with a diamond comb. Diamond bandeau, with necklace, armlets, and drop earrings of the same. Slippers of white satin, with silver clasps, French kid gloves, just escaping the elbow. Fan of carved ivory. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’.

Definition Bandana Or Bandeau: Narrow strip or band worn around head to confine hair. Made of either twisted fabric, length of pearls, flowers, jewels or feathers. From the French word for “strip.

HN_26_D2D Fashion Women 1805-1809
https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809 — Fashion Women 1805-1809 History Notes Book 26 What did Jane Austen and friends wear? https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809

1817 December Bridgerton and Jane Austen Style Mourning Dress, English. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #Mourning #HistoricalFashion

Posted on July 1, 2026 by Suzi LoveJune 27, 2026

1817 December Black Walking Mourning Dress, English. Black bombazine dress with a black crepe hem, with tight bodice wrapping across to the right side, trimmed with a piping of black crape that looks like braiding and finished by rosettes of crape, in the center of each of which is a small jet ornament. Long sleeves trimmed similarly at the wrists, half-sleeve of a new form trimmed with crape, high standing collar displaying a mourning ruff. Claremont bonnet, named because it is the same shape as one worn by the Princess, whose home with her husband, Prince Leopold, was called Claremont. Black crape over black sarsnet and lined with double white crape. Low crown but large front and tastefully finished by black crape with a bunch of crape flowers on one side. Black shamois gloves, and black shoes. “We have again to acknowledge our obligations to the lady who favored us last month; and we understand that the dresses from which our prints this month have been taken were also purchased from Mrs. Bell of St. James’s-street.” Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’.

Mrs. Bell ‘invented’ fashion plates and as well as publishing in La Belle assemblee, she also sold them to other magazines. Hence the crossover we often see where the same plate, or a similar version, appears in different magazines.

1817 December Black Walking Mourning Dress, English.
Black bombazine dress, black crepe hem, tight wrapped bodice, rosettes of crepe with jet ornaments, long sleeves trimmed at wrist plus half-sleeves, high standing collar with mourning ruff, Claremont bonnet of crepe and sarsnet and with crepe flowers, black shamois gloves and black shoes.

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https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1815-1819 — Fashion Women 1815-1819 History Notes Book 28 https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1815-1819

1818 December Mourning Walking Dress As Worn In Bridgerton Times. #Bridgerton #RegencyFashion #Mourning

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Suzi LoveJune 25, 2026

1818 December Mourning Walking Dress. Round dress of black bombazine, body tight to the shape and up to the throat but without a collar, long sleeves, with white crape weepers, skirt is finished at the bottom with a broad black crape flounce, disposed in large plaits. Over this is a very narrow flounce, which is also plaited to correspond; a little above this is a third flounce, which is quilled in the middle to correspond, and the whole is surmounted by a broad band of bias crape. The spencer worn with this dress is composed of black clothing; it is cut without a seam, and ornamented with a fullness of black crape, disposed in large plaits at the bottom of the waist: a high standing collar rounded in front, made to stand out from the neck, and edged with a light trimming of black crape: long loose sleeves, finished at the hands with black crape trimming, and surmounted by epaulettes draperied with black cord and ornamented with small tassels. Head-dress, a bonnet of black crape of a moderate size; the edge of the brim is finished with a row of large hollow plaits; the crown is trimmed to correspond. A white crape frill stands up round the throat. Gloves and shoes black shamois leather. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’, London, U.K.

1811 January Velvet Pelisse, Walking Boots, Quizzing Glass and Slouch Hat in Jane Austen style. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #HistoricalFashion

Posted on June 21, 2026 by Suzi LoveJune 14, 2026

1811 January Walking Dress, or Pelisse, English. Jane Austen and her contemporaries wore long coats like these to keep warm when out and about, visiting, shopping etc. Their thin muslin dresses worn in the early 1800s were little protection against European winters.

Round high morning robe of cambric with deep full-trimmed collar. Swedish coat of velvet, trimmed with swansdown or blue fox fur. Spanish pelerine of the same, fastened in front of the throat with a mother-of-pearl brooch, clasps to correspond for the bottom of the waist. Traveller’s, or slouch, hat of velvet turned up with shell ornament, half-boots of grey cloth, laced and bound with black velvet. Chinese ridicule, or reticule, or bag, of grey satin, embellished with black medallions and tassels. Gold chain and eye-glass, or quizzing glass.. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository’ of Arts.

Definition Redingote Or Coat Or Pelisse Or Walking Dress: Long fitted outdoor coat worn over other garments for warmth. French word developed from English words, riding coat. French fashion plates call these coats a Redingote and English plates call them a Pelisse, Or Walking Dress, or Carriage Costume. For more of these, try my book on Pelisses, History Notes Book 5 . books2read.com/suzilovePelisse

Definition Swansdown: Fine down of a swan, used for trimmings on clothing and for making powder puffs.

Definition Velvet or Velour: Silk with short, dense and smooth pile produced by pile warp raised in loops above ground weave through introduction of rods during the weaving.

Definition Ridicule, Reticule, Indispensable, or Handbag: From the late 1700s, pockets could no longer be sewn into gowns nor could separate pockets be tied around their waists and accessed by slits in the gown and petticoats, as skirts fell from just under the bust and were full and flowing. Instead, women began carrying small bags, known at first as ridicules and later as reticules, to keep necessary items on their person e.g. handkerchiefs, coins, vinaigrettes, calling cards, glasses etc. For more on reticules, try my History Notes book 3 http://books2read.com/suziloveReticules

1811 January Walking Dress Or Pelisse, English. Ackermann's Repository Series1 Vol 5. 1811 January. Walking Dress, or Pelisse, English. Round high morning robe of cambric with deep full-trimmed collar. A Swedish coat of velvet, trimmed with swansdown or blue fox fur. Spanish pelerine of the same, fastened in front of the throat with a mother-of-pearl broach, clasps to correspond for the bottom of the waist. Traveller’s, or slouch, hat of velvet turned up with shell ornament, half-boots of grey cloth, laced and bound with black velvet. Chinese ridicule, or reticule, or bag, of grey satin, embellished with black medallions and tassels. Gold chain and eye-glass. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann's 'The Repository' of Arts. Definition Velvet or Velour: Silk with short, dense and smooth pile produced by pile warp raised in loops above ground weave through introduction of rods during the weaving.

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1812 Green Riding Habit, English As Worn in the Times Of Jane Austen. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #HistoricalFashion

Posted on June 20, 2026 by Suzi LoveJune 14, 2026

1812 June Green Riding Dress, English. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’. This riding habit was probably made in two pieces. It has a vertical front decoration and is embroidered with black at the cuffs à la militaire. The small riding hat from black beaver is adorned with gold cordon and tassels and with a long ostrich feather of green in the front, or a green hat with black tassels and black feather. Black half boots, laced and fringed with green, York tan gloves, and riding crop. When this dress is worn as a carriage or walking costume, it is made as a pelisse without the riding jacket, and confined round the waist by a fancy belt of black and green. This habit was made by Mr. S. Clark, 37 Golden Square.” Riding habits and accessories were generally the only ladies’ clothing made by tailors rather than dressmakers.

1812 June Green Riding Dress, English. Long dress with vertical front decoration, yellow gloves, green boots, black hat and riding crop. Riding habits were the only ladies' clothing made by tailors rather than dressmakers. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann's 'The Repository of Arts'.

1809 July Opera Dress: Round convent robe of Egyptian brown tissue in Jane Austen Style. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #HistoricalFashion

Posted on June 6, 2026 by Suzi LoveJune 3, 2026

1809 July Opera Dress. I can picture aristocratic women wearing this sort of gorgeous outfit to the opera or an evening event.

Round convent robe of Egyptian brown tissue worn over white satin underdress, ornamented at feet, bosom and sleeves with broad Antique lace, out on full, and narrowing in front, white satin appliqued stomacher embellished with gold lattice work and continued in a straight line down to the hem. Headdress is a gold net caul, enclosing the hair at the back and finished in front with a Mechlin veil displaying the hair on the forehead and falling over the left shoulder. Necklace and armlets are a single row of Bohemian pearl with topaz or diamond snaps. Grecian scarf of rich Andalusian silk, contrasted with the robe and wrought at the ends in a deep Tuscan border of gold or colored silks. White satin slippers, trimmed with brown foil or gold, French kid gloves, opera fan of white crepe with a border of jessamine. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’.

1809 July Opera Dress Round convent robe of Egyptian brown tissue worn over white satin underdress, ornamented at feet, bosom and sleeves with broad Antique lace, out on full, and narrowing in front, white satin appliqued stomacher embellished with gold lattice work and continued in a straight line down to the hem. Headdress is a gold net caul, enclosing the hair at the back and finished in front with a Mechlin veil displaying the hair on the forehead and falling over the left shoulder. Necklace and armlets are a single row of Bohemian pearl with topaz or diamond snaps. Grecian scarf of rich Andalusian silk, contrasted with the robe and wrought at the ends in a deep Tuscan border of gold or colored silks. White satin slippers, trimmed with brown foil or gold, French kid gloves, opera fan of white crepe with a border of jessamine. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann's 'The Repository of Arts'. I can picture aristocratic women wearing this sort of gorgeous outfit to the opera or an evening event.

1813 October White At-Home Dress, Lace Cap and Red Shawl As Worn in Jane Austen and Bridgerton years. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #Bridgerton

Posted on May 18, 2026 by Suzi LoveApril 19, 2026

1813 October Morning Dress, English. Jane Austen and her family and friends would have worn this style of relaxed dress and cap. White At-Home dress with morning lace cap and a red shawl. Plain cambric underdress, three-quartered muslin or Chinese silk robe trimmed round the bottom and up the front with Indian border, or needle-work, and finished with a deep flounce of lace. Convent hood and pelerine of white net lace, confined under the chin with a silk cord and tassel. Hair in irregular curls with a fancy flower in the front. Short rosary and cross, plus bracelets, of coquilla beads. Buff or lemon kid slippers and pale tan gloves. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’.

This is a typical outfit worn at home in the morning in the house, to be seen only by family or close friends. A lady might wear this while writing having breakfast, writing letters, or reading. Called by the various names of Undress, to At-Home dress, or Morning dress, it is the most relaxed ensemble a lady will wear all day. The sort of outfit Jane Austen would have worn when writing her books.

Suzi Love

Making history fun, one year at a time.

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