August means summer, and summer means white, at least for the ladies of 1812. Both evening and promenade dresses in this month’s fashion plates feature that color, although the evening gown is of crape, while the walking costume is of jaconet or imperial cambric muslin. [Read more…]
Archives for September 2016
Ackermann’s Fashion Plates July 1812
Well, the great Ackermann’s Fashion Plate project had to go on an unexpected hiatus this summer, due to some personal business that had to be dealt with. But with fall on the horizon, the project is back on track, with two lovely dresses from the July 1812 issue.
The first is an embroidered crepe round evening gown, featuring what are described as “melon” sleeves, with “bosom and back to correspond.” The sleeves do not puff out as much as one might expect from what we now call a “melon sleeve”: [Read more…]