March 1815

No. 1.—DIANA WALKING DRESS.

Pelisse of green velvet, or rich twilled green and white shot sarsnet, lined with white sarsnet, and made, as our readers will perceive, in a style of uncommon novelty and elegance: it is about a half a quarter of a yard shorter than the gown, is open in front, and is trimmed round with Mrs. Bell’s beautiful Britannia pearl silk trimming. The body of this pelisse is fitted to the shape in a style equally original and uncommon, and is better calculated than any thing we have recently seen to display the shape to the greatest advantage. Head-dress, hat of intermingled velvet and white pearl fur, ornamented with a superb ostrich feather, placed to the side. Of this hat, we can only say that, from the originality as well as the tasteful elegance of its form, it fully merits the distinguished estimation in which it is held by our fair votarists of fashion, who universally declare it the most becoming head-dress which the inventive genius of Mrs. Bell has yet produced. The new invented Diana petticoat is worn with this walking dress, which combines the essential requisites of warmth with the novel advantages of securing the form from the uncomfortable appearances produced by windy weather. There is unusual originality in the petticoat, being made in a most novel manner. Half-boots, composed partly of green leather, and partly of white velvet, or jean, laced up with green silk cord. White kid gloves.

NO. 2.—DINNER DRESS.

A short round dress of bright ruby velvet, or twilled sarsnet; if the latter is should be shot with white. The form of this dress is extremely novel and elegant; the body, which is formed in the frock style, is calculated to display the beauty of the chest to the utmost advantage; and to such ladies as are not peculiarly well formed about the bosom it gives an appearance of width to the chest, as well as an easy elegance to the shape, which must be seen to be credited. Long sleeve, composed of white lace, made, as all the sleeves of the present month are, very full, the fullness is drawn in at the top in the front of the arm, and it is confined at the wrist in a novel and tasteful style. White lace French tucker, which we have no hesitation in saying is by much the most elegant thing that has been introduced for a length of time and does the highest credit to the taste and inventiveness of Mrs. Bell; it is so contrived as to shade the bosom while it leaves that part of the neck bare which may be exposed without indelicacy; it finishes the dress in a style the most chaste, novel and tasteful that we have ever seen. The bottom of the dress is simply ornamented with two rows of bias lace or crape, put on the reverse way, and lightly finished round the edge with a French beading. Head-dress, the Britannia Toque, composed of ruby velvet, and finished with a gold or silver band and a white ostrich feather. This cap which is rather in the French style, is elegantly appropriate to dinner dress. White kid slippers and gloves; small ivory French fan.

The above dresses were invented by Mrs. Bell, inventress of the Ladies Chapeau Bras and the Circassian Corsets, and of whom only they can be had, at her Magazin des Modes, No. 26, Charlotte Street, Bedford-square.