Bathing Dress – Summer 1815

Regency Era Coastal Swimwear and Early Technological Garment Adaptation

This authentic August 1815 hand-colored aquatint from the British periodical “La Belle Assemblée” introduces a pioneering functional concept in early nineteenth-century women’s activewear. Invented by the celebrated London dressmaker Mrs. Bell, this specialized marine costume features a full pelisse-style gown crafted from unique Berlin silk woven into a distinctive green and pink tartan plaid pattern, explicitly structured for rapid dressing changes near the shore.

Historical Maritime Promenade Fashion and Antique Beach Machinery

The high-waisted outdoor apparel is styled with a matching protective bonnet, short striped boots, and heavy decorative ruffles along the hemline designed to anchor the fabric against seaside breezes. Set against a coastal background containing a distant sailboat and traditional horse-drawn bathing machines on the sand, this archival plate offers costume curators invaluable evidence regarding the origins of functional Western beachwear and early European resort habits.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges