Bliss Bennet. The passion of historical romance.

Bliss Bennet writes smart, edgy novels for readers who love history as much as they love romance.

  • HOME
  • BOOKS
  • BIO
  • BLOG
  • EXTRAS
  • CONTACT

Archives for July 2017

Ackermann’s Fashion Plates April 1814

July 26, 2017 By BlissBennet Leave a Comment

 

Maggie Prescott, the fictional fashion editor in the film Funny Face, may have declared 1957 the year to “think pink!” but pink clearly appealed to fashionistas long before the mid-20th century. Ackermann’s fashion plates for April of 1814 feature pink in abundance. “Pale ruby” and “blossom-coloured” are the words used to describe the pinks of the mantle, hat, and half-boots of plate 24’s Promenade Dress, but pink they surely are. As is the petite footrest, the flowers on the embroidered screen, and the single blossom in the hair of the lady featured in Plate 25, all of which add a touch of color to the plate’s all-white Morning Dress.

Ackermanns Fashion Plate 24 April 1814: Promenade Dress

Ackermanns Fashion plate 25 April 1814: Morning Dress

Sleeves in the spring of 1814 are “not so full as of late,” the description of plate 24 notes, although it is difficult to discern just how full said sleeve is, as it is covered by the lady’s mantle. I’ll keep an eye out as I post the rest of 1814’s plates, to see if this trend for less full sleeves continues.

Ackermanns Fashion plates April 1814 text

 

Once again, no fabric samples in this issue, only needlework patterns. Said patterns show a clear shift away from the neoclassical, and toward the more naturalistic. Another trend int he making? Ackermanns April 1814: Needlework patterns

SaveSave

Filed Under: Regency History Tagged With: Ackermann, Ackermanns, Ackermmann's, clothing, dress, fashion, needlework

Ackermann’s Fashion Plates March 1814

July 19, 2017 By BlissBennet Leave a Comment

 

I don’t recall silver being prominently featured in many Ackermann’s fashion plates. But for March 1814’s evening gown, silver is the accent color of choice to enliven a rather plain white dress. A silver stomacher ornaments an olive or spring-green bodice; a full silver border trims the sleeves and neckline; a silver fringe accents the waist; and silver rosettes adorn the slippers. Even the gown itself is “embroidered in silver lama round the bottom” (lama = cloth of gold or silver, originally made in Spain). Only the “fan frill” of lace on the back neckline and the pearls of the necklace and bandeau vary from the silver theme.

 

Ackermanns fashion plate 16 March 1814: Evening Gown

 

This month’s walking costume is more colorful; while its underlying dress is white and its covering cloak a neutral dove color, the lining of the cloak, the “fancy cape or hood,” the “Circassian turban cap,” and the half boots feature both crimson and rose. The white van Dyke lace at neck and wrists only accentuate the vibrancy of the reds.

Ackermanns Fashion Plate 17 March 1814: Promenade or carriage costume

 

 

No fabric samples this month, but the issue does end with some intricate embroidery patterns of vines. The star and heart shapes of the second pattern seem unusual for the period; I wonder if the pattern was much reproduced?

Ackermanns March 1814 Embroidery patterns

 

While I don’t usually include furniture prints in these posts, I couldn’t resist adding this one, which features a decorative ladies’ book-case. I found its folding doors and lots of drawers for storing all those little things a Regency lady might need to keep close to hand in her boudoir quite appealing. Too bad there are no titles visible on the books collected in this gilt-adorned piece of furniture—I would have liked to have known what titles Ackermann’s thought Regency ladies of 1814 would most likely keep close to hand . . .

Ackermanns March 1814 plate 13, Lady's Book-Case

 

 

SaveSave

Filed Under: Regency History Tagged With: Ackermann, Ackermanns, Ackermmann's, clothing, dress, fabric, fashion, furniture, needlework

RSS Bliss Bennet. The passion of historical romance.

  • Ackermann’s Fashion Plates January 1817
  • Ackermann’s Fashion Plates December 1816
  • Ackermann’s Fashion Plates November 1816
  • Ackermann’s Fashion Plates October 1816
  • Ackermann’s September 1816 Fashion Plates
  • Ackermann’s August 1816 Fashion Plates
  • Ackermann’s Fashion Plates July 1816
  • Ackermann’s Fashion Plates June 1816
  • Ackermann’s Fashion Plates May 1816
  • Ackermann’s Fashion Plates April 1816

Categories

  • A Lady without a Lord
  • A Man without a Mistress
  • Book Production
  • Guest Post lins
  • Rebel without a Rogue
  • Regency Curiosities
  • Regency History
  • Uncategorized
  • Writer's Life

Archives

  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
SITE NAVIGATION

Home
Books
Bio
Blog
Contact
Newsletter
Privacy Policy

TWITTERTweets by BlissBennet
SOCIAL
Bliss Bennet Facebook
Bliss Bennet Twitter
Bliss Bennet Pinterest
Bliss Bennet GoodReads