Summer Dresses – 1808

1800s Georgian Regency Era Print from London Dresses for June

This original 1808 hand-colored fashion engraving, titled “London Dresses for June,” stands as a premier artifact of British textile history from the early Georgian Regency period. Published by Vernor, Hood & Sharpe Poultry in June 1808, the antique plate illustrates two women in high-society outdoor attire. Capturing the neoclassical aesthetic that swept across Europe during the Napoleonic era, this collectible print beautifully documents the early shift toward fluid drapery and minimalistic undergarments before the mid-19th-century volume returned.

Neoclassical Empire Silhouette Gowns, Spencer Coats, and Poke Bonnets

The historical illustration showcases regulation summer ensembles, highlighting a lady in a high-waisted white muslin day dress worn under a matching long-sleeved open tunic or spencer coat, complemented by a green sun parasol and bright yellow gloves. Standing beside her, the second figure models an elegant rose-pink Grecian-style evening gown featuring a draped sheer white overlay sash and long white opera gloves. Finished with a yellow draped turban hat and an ornate lace poke bonnet decorated with red roses, this rare plate serves as an invaluable resource for Regency costume design.