Early Victorian Era Fashion Chit Chat - March 1843 Godey's Lady's Book

Early Victorian Era Fashion Chit Chat - March 1843 Godey's Lady's Book

Chit Chat for the Month

As a matter of rarity we give a description of some of the dresses worn at a late Drawing Room of the Queen's.

The Duchess of Kent - This distinguished lady was habited in an elegant costume, composed of verdant green velvet, the centre of the dress having a light kind of network trimming continued up the front of the high and close-fitting corsage, and round the edge of the small cape, which is rounded over the shoulders at the back, descending on each side of the front of the body, and reaching to the rounded waist; tight sleeves, ornamented at the top with a round double epaulet. Muff or ermine, lined with white satin.

The Queen - Her Majesty was habited in an elegant evening costume, composed of white tulle, over rich white satin, the upper skirt of tulle being caught up on the left side, and attached with a noeud of pale pink ribbon, with two rather long ends of the same; from this noeud up to the waist is a beautiful light trimming, composed entirely of variegated flowers, forming a kind of flat guirlande; the corsage a point, and perfectly plain; very short tight sleeves, the edge of the sleeves and round the bust, decorated with a fulling of tulle, caught here and there with very small variegated flowers, to match those on the skirt. Coiffure composed of a very light kind of lace, falling rather full on each side of the ears, plain on the top of the head; an exquisite wreath of small pink and yellow roses was passed across, and formed a perfect bouquet on each side; a splendid Josephine comb decorated the back of the hair, which was worn rather high.

Morning Caps have a very pretty effect when doublee (or lined) with Florence, lilac, pink or blue, and trimmed with a ribbon posee, or (placed) in loops over the top of the front. Another style, and more simple, are those composed of Lyonnoise muslin, with rounded ears in the form of a papillon, and trimmed with three rows of Mechlin lace; between each row is seen a pretty coloured ribbon, put on perfectly plain, the hair worn in full bands. Then there are those called Louisa in muslin, the top being very spacious and of a single piece, and fulled all round a narrow band edged with lace, and a charming little cap, without any foundation, being merely formed of many rows of lace placed one upon the other, and rather fulled at the ears, trimmed on one side with very small flat neouds in pink satin ribbon, and on the other, with small choux or roseattes without ends.

Head Dresses - A change is now taking place in the arrangement of the ahir, which instead of being dressed in low plaits falling upon the neck, is being replaced by the long and floating curls or ringlets, surmounted with a rosace of hair, coiffee a la neige, and encircled with small chaperons of flowers mounted in a pretty light style; the back hair is parted upon the top, the masses of hair being surrounded with a light style of lace, fulled and retained in the form of a shell, by two long gold pins placed right and left.