Fashion Plate Friday: April 1841

​Godey’s Lady’s Book
April 1841
Description of Fashion Plate
 Fig. 1. – Dress of poux de soie ; blue shot with pink.  The corsage is plain at back and half high ; the fronts also tight to the shape, but only meeting at the very waist, being sloped away in the form of a V, and trimmed with two rows of falling lace.  The skirt is without garniture, save a hem of itself about a quarter of a yard in depth ; the sleeves are plain and loose, cut out on the straight way of the material ; they are not confined any where, and reach only midway of the lower arm, the buttons of the sleeves being turned up like cuffs, (see plate), in order to display a pair of under sleeves, made of fine India muslin ; these sleeves belong to a corsage, the front of which is to be seen ; it has drawings across like the sleeves, and is finished at top by a row of narrow lace edging ; deep ruffles of lace fall over the hands.  The hat is of white crepe lisse and has three flowers at the side ; the strings are of crape lisse, with a very fine satin piping all round, and edged with narrow blonde.  It will be perceived, that the crown of the bonnet sits so flat that it is not at all perceptible in front.  Flowers underneath the bonnet.
 Fig. 2. – Dress of white book muslin.  The corsage is precisely the same as the one just described, except, that instead of being trimmed with two falls of lace, it has two frills of muslin small plaited, and put on with a bouillon, through which a ribbon may be inserted at pleasure.  This trimming is continued down the front of the skirt of the dress, the bouillon small plaited, and inserted down the centre of the front ; a glance at out plate will suffice to make this intelligible.  The chemisette, appearing in fornt, is richly embroidered.  The sleeves of this dress are plain at the shoulder, and the remainder nearly tight.  Gauze cap trimmed with satin ribbon ; the cap is without strings to tie.  Hiar in bands, brought low at the sides of the face, where it is turned up again.
 Fig. 3. – The corsage almost similar to that of figure 1, differing in having a ribbon run through it, (see plate).  Bishop sleeves, pointed cuffs, with a cap at the top of the sleeve trimmed to correspond with the collar.  Rosette and ends at the waist, coloured silk skirt, a wide flounce and heading pinked out.  Bonnet of fancy lace, trimmed with lace and flowers.
 
 Fig. 4. – Dress of silk or muslin, with tight sleeves, lace waist, made of puffs and with caps on the sleeves to put on over the dress ; the waist finished with cord and tassel ; one extra wide flounce.  Drawn bonnet, cottage form, trimmed with wheat and ribbon. Light fancy sash.

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