Gentleman and Lady in Half Dress – 1807

First French Empire Walking Dresses in Vintage 1807 Engraving

This authentic hand-colored fashion plate from 1807, titled “Demi-parure, Espagnol, Capote, Bonnet Vernet”, illustrates the distinct style of the First French Empire and Napoleonic era. The composition features an outdoor walking scene with a lady in a high-waisted white muslin gown detailed with short puffed sleeves and a colorful zig-zag patterned hemline. She is wrapped in a vibrant yellow shawl or wrap draped over her arms and wears an elaborate pink fabric bonnet (capote) with a ruffled brim. This historic print provides a rare visual record of Parisian outdoor attire during the transition into early 19th-century European fashion.

Historical Regency Men’s and Women’s Fashion Illustration

A significant archival piece for historic costume research, this French engraving uniquely features both male and female dandy attire from the Georgian period. In the background, a fashionable gentleman stands wearing a long tan wool frock coat, fitted yellow breeches, a high-collared white cravat, and tall leather riding boots with light-colored cuffs, while holding a black top hat. The detailed illustration, signed by the artist Pauquet, serves as a premium resource for theater costume designers, historic textile collectors, and curators studying early 19th-century French court lifestyle and tailoring.