Ackermann's September 1809 fashion plates strike a somber note: the first depicts Mourning dresses for both mother and child. And while the second shows a seaside promenade dress, the sketched-in figure of a laborer on the shore suggests that life is not all fashion and play… Vol. II, no. ix, pages 192-93.
FYI, a “cestus” is defined by the OED as “A belt or girlde for the waist; particularly that worn by a bride in ancient times.” A bit ironic, to see it figure in a mourning gown design? Or commemorative, if the person mourning is a widow?
This month's fabric samples include a snippet from one of the most colorful prints I've seen in the magazine. I've just realized that these fabric samples are also accompanied by write-ups, which I've not included before. I'll have to go back and emend my earlier posts. Unfortunately, the write-up tells me that this colorful print is intended for use in furniture or draperies, not for dresses… Vol. II, no. ix, page 206:
