Walking Dress – Summer 1821

Regency Period Pelisse-Dress and Indoor Art Gallery Setting

This authentic 1812 fashion plate from Ackermann’s Repository of Arts captures a sophisticated lady standing within a refined indoor interior, likely an art gallery or a private parlor adorned with framed landscape paintings on the wall. The hand-colored antique print illustrates a structured pelisse-dress in an elegant slate-blue or steel-blue hue. Moving away from fluid morning gowns, this historical garment features a tailored military-inspired front closure decorated with horizontal braided frogging or brandenburg fasteners that run down the length of the high-waisted bodice and skirt.

Nineteenth-Century Fine Needlework Accessories and Plumed Hat Details

The standing subject is depicted holding an open book of sheet music or an exhibition catalog, shifting the thematic focus toward cultural and artistic pursuits of the nineteenth century. Draped over her left arm is a luxurious, long cream shawl embellished with intricate multicolored floral embroidery along its fringed borders. In her hand, she also carries a matching steel-blue bonnet featuring a dramatic, cascading white ostrich feather plume, complemented by a crisp, high white ruff collar around her neck to complete this regal pre-Victorian daytime ensemble.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges