Ackermann’s Fashion Plate, September 1816

This fashion plate from September 1816 depicts a woman standing with hands folded looking off to the side in a long white floral dress. V-neckline trimmed with ruffles with a small pink flower in the center of the bust and empire waistline. Short cap sleeves trimmed entirely in ruffles. Long white skirt that comes right above the ankle, trimmed in two layers of white lace and pink flowers. A wreath of pink flowers ornament the hair, a floral necklace, white lace wrap draped over one shoulder, elbow length gloves, white stockings and slippers.

Fashion plate, hand-colored aquatint from Rudolph Ackermann’s “Repository of Arts”, Series 2, Vol. II, Plate 17, No. 9, September 1, 1816.

Original 1816 description:
“A white British net dress over a white sarsnet slip; the dress is trimmed round the bottom with a deep double flounce of lace, surmounted by a wreath of roses, immediately above which is rollio of white satin. This trimming is uncommonly tasteful and striking. The body and sleeves are of the same material as the dress; the former is full, and cut in a very novel style: a quilling of blond lace goes round the bosom, which comes high at the sides, but is sloped very much just in front. A small bouquet of moss roses shades the bosom, and gives an elegant finish to the dress. The sleeve, short and extremely full, is divided into compartments by rollios of satin. Head-dress a wreath of moss roses, fancifully intermixed with corn-flowers; the hair very becomingly dressed in light loose ringlets on the forehead, and moderately high behind. A superb white lace scarf, thrown round the shoulders, partially shades the back of the neck. Necklace, ear-rings, and bracelets, pearl. White satin slippers, and white kid gloves. We are indebted to the condescension of a lady of distinguished rank for both our dresses this month.”

SARSNET – A thin twilled fabric which uses different colors in the warp and weft, thus allowing the fabric to subtly change colors as it moves. Though it is sometimes spelled sarsenet or sarcenet, the fashion magazines of the Regency period almost always use the spelling sarsnet.

ROLLIO – A 19th century fashion term meaning the trimming of material rolled lengthwise into a narrow tubular shape.
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Sharon Lathan

Sharon Lathan is the best-selling author of The Darcy Saga, a ten-volume sequel series to Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.

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DarcyBennett

Although I love to look at dresses and imagine myself wearing, it’s probably good I live in the period I live now as I never dress up in dresses/skirts as I find them too uncomfortable.

NovElla

Thanks for sharing this! That’s so interesting to see the description along with the fashion plate from that time period. I had not heard of a rollio before.

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