Journal Journey into the year 1811 - With this month I am officially caught up! You will see October on the 19th!

HOORAY! It only took me half the week but here we are, all caught up and back on track! I forgot in the mess of sewing frantically for Malmaison how much I enjoyed this project and how much I enjoyed learning! I hope those who have followed up until this point have enjoyed it too.

So here is September!

Plate 16. - Promenade Costume
A round high robe with large long sleeves and deep falling collar, edged with lace or needle-work and composed of jaconot muslin.  A small capuchin mantle of green shot sarsnet, lined with white, and trimmed with chinese silk fringe or corresponding shades; deep Spanish pointed cape, trimmed with the same.  White satin hat of the spanish form, with rim the colour of the mantle, ornamented with a demi wreath of corn-flowers.  Roman shoe of green morocco.  Gloves of lemon coloured kid; and parasol corresponding with the cloak, with deep chinese awning. 

(It seems this month Spanish garments seem to be the nationality of choice. Other than that, this seems to be a very simple self explanatory fashion. Though it is really very beautiful, don't you think? Green and white is always so classic!)

Plate 17. - Morning Dress
A chinese robe with full long sleeve, composed of fine imperial or plan cambric muslin; trimmed round the throat and wrist and down the front with a full plaited border of plain muslin.  A french foundling cap, formed of alternate stripes of lace and white satin, ornamented with blossom-coloured ribbon, and autumnal flowers to correspond.  A pelerine of spotted muslin or net, trimmed entirely round with lace or muslin, and thrown loosely over the shoulders.  shoes and gloves of lemon coloured kid.
These dressed are furnished by mrs. gill, no. 1, cork street, burlington-gardens, whose extensive and elegant assortment of millinery, robes &c. &c. has rendered her so justly eminent in her line.

In ladie's shoes there has of late been a complete revolution. Rodwell's brass military heel and copper fastenings are quite the ton as is also the gold and jet clasp to the regent slipper, which is certainly the most graceful ornament for the female foot we have witnessed for some time. 

(Now here is something I have never seen before! A "Chinese Robe"! From what I can see of the Plate there is nothing special that might give off the hint of any resemblance to the attire in China.  Any thoughts? I should love to hear if you have any! Otherwise, the descriptions are rather simple, and so absolutely beautiful.  This is definitely one of my favorite plates and her little ruffly perlerine and cap charm me immensely. 

The mention of shoes got me so excited! Brass military heel and copper fastenings? I should very much like to see an example and figure out what exactly this would look like. So wonderful! It isn't often you get this much desciption of a shoe other than its color and material.)

Allegorical Wood-Cut, with Patterns of British Manufacture.
No. 1 & 2.  A striped persian dove-colored chintz for window-curtains and bed furniture.  The colour of this article is so chaste, and at the same time so perfectly neutral, that fringed trimming of any hue will suit it: a rich gold-yellow however, is more particularly adapted to shew it to the greatest advantage. 

No.  3. A celestial blue waved gauze for evening dress. This article, equally novel and graceful, should be worn over white satin or sarsnet.

No. 4. A sprigged chintz designed for morning dresses.  It combines a high degree of elegance with a  pleasing simplicity. 

(It seems to be very common to include a furniture chintz with the fabrics for garments! Throwing in a curve ball to make sure we are all paying attention.  The last two I just adore, and I swear you can buy something very similar to the last at Regency Revisited! I wish that gauzes of that texture were more readily available, however. How lovely that must look over top a glistening satin or silk? Dreamy sigh. Like a cloud!)

Another simple month has come and gone, and we can only hope that October brings a little more information for us. I always love the months that have the letters from Belinda, so much more detail than you get otherwise!