Volume 1

A collection of the dresses of different nations, antient and modern. Particularly old English dresses. After the designs of Holbein, Vandyke, Hollar and others. With an account of the authorities from which the figures are taken; and some short historical remarks on the subject. To which are added, the habits of the principal characters on the English stage. (Receuil des habillements, etc.) [In English and French] [Anon.].

Date:
1757-1772
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A collection of the dresses of different nations, antient and modern. Particularly old English dresses. After the designs of Holbein, Vandyke, Hollar and others. With an account of the authorities from which the figures are taken; and some short historical remarks on the subject. To which are added, the habits of the principal characters on the English stage. (Receuil des habillements, etc.) [In English and French] [Anon.]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    knew how beft to exert that Power which the choice of their Drefs put into their Hands. When the British Lady thinks fit to drefs fo as to difcover the whole Breaft, the Britifh Gentleman foon looks upon it with as much Indifference, as the naked Indian looks upon all the reft; but if fhe covers it with a handkerchief, and contrives this covering fo that it (hall accidentally difcover what it appears in¬ tended to hide, the Glimpfe that is thus cafually given, immediately and forcibly feizes the Imagination, and every Motion is watched in hopes that it will be re¬ peated ; fo if by any Accident a Lady difcover half her Leg, the Fancy is inftantly alarmed, though when the Adrefs appears in breeches and difcovers the whole, {lie is the Objed of Indifference, if not of Difguft : for the fame Reafon the fi¬ gure of a naked Venus produces lefs Effed than that of a drefled Figure with the Petticoat raifed fo as to difcover the Garter. It follows therefore that if {he dreffes moft immodeftly who dreffes fo as moft to excite licentious Defires, the does not drefs moft immodeftly who uncovers moft of her Perfon, but (he who covers it fo that it may be accidentally feen. And upon this principle it was that the Gre¬ cian Legiflator, when he obferved that many of the Youth lived unmarried, di- reded the Women to wear long Garments which covered the whole Perfon from the Shoulders to the Feet, inftead of difcovering all the Breaft and half the Leg ; and ordered that the Robe ftiould be cut in Slafties from the Hip to the Knee, fo that when they ftood or fate ftill, the two Sides of the Opening ftiould fall to¬ gether, but {hould by dividing, when they walked or ufed any other Motion, cafu¬ ally difcover the Parts which at other Times were concealed. Many Changes of female Drefs, that may be traced in this Colledion, will be found to proceed from unftdlful Attempts to allure, by difcovering more and more of the Perfon, and by the Difappointment which fucceeded the Experiment, and at laft induced a fudden Tranfition to a clofe Drefs by which the whole Per (on was covered. As to the Changes of Habit, which were the Effects ot mere Caprice and Wantonnefs of Fancy, it is impoflible to trace them in other Countries, and difficult in our own : the following Particulars, however, may ferve to gratify tiie Curious, and excite them to a more critical Examination. Party-coloured Coats were firft worn in England in the of H^niy L Chaplets or Wreaths of artificial Flowers in the Time of Edward III. Hool B 2