Full Dress – 1805

Regency Era Evening Wear in Georgian Fashion Plate

This authentic hand-colored etching from June 1805, originally published in the British periodical The Lady’s Magazine, captures a prime example of a London fashionable full dress. The composition depicts an elegant high-society woman leaning gracefully against a classical wooden floor harp. Styled in the iconic Empire silhouette of the Regency era, the lady wears a soft pastel blue round gown draped over an embellished white petticoat with intricate embroidery along the hemline. The sheer fabric is tightly cinched directly beneath the bustline with a dark cord ending in decorative, heavy tassels that trail down the front of the skirt.

Antique British Fashion Engraving for Historic Costumes

An invaluable archival piece for textile history, this early 19th-century print illustrates the refined artistic tastes of Georgian-era Londoners. The figure is heavily accessorized with gold-accented clasps on the puffed cap sleeves, a delicate cross pendant necklace, and an elaborate headpiece. Her dark hair is swept upward into a classic Grecian updo, held by a golden tiara bandeau and crowned with dramatic, flowing blue and white ostrich feathers. This detailed engraving serves as a highly targeted visual resource for historical costume designers, Regency romance enthusiasts, and collectors of vintage British lifestyle publications.