Bell’s Court and Fashionable Magazine

May, 1809

Special Collections AP4 B42 1809

London: John Bell

The February 1809 issue of Bell’s Court and Fashionable Magazine describes ladies’ dresses on the anniversary of Her Majesty Caroline’s birthday: ‘…scarlet petticoat with black lace…diamond bows…draperies, rows of gold cockle shells and chains, strings of pearls and pearl tassels…’ Following in decreasing order of status and detail are accounts of dresses worn by others attending the soirée, from princesses to countesses in this early version of the celebrity fashion spread. The evening full dress described in the May 1809 issue of the section ‘La Belle Assemblée’ seems to match the engraving opposite, which is dated April. The content for Bell’s ‘fashionable magazine’ was often gleaned from ‘elegant public and private sources.’