Ackermann's Repository of Arts...Mourning

Royal deaths:

Princess Charlotte (George IV’s daughter) 6 November 1817
Queen Charlotte (George III wife), 17 November 1818
Edward, Duke of Kent (son of George III, father of Queen Victoria) 23 January 1820
George III,  (coronation 19 July 1821) 29 January 1820
Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia (wife of Frederick, Duke of York, second son of George III) 6 August 1820
Caroline of Brunswick, (George IV wife) 7 August 1821


1817, December (mourning Princess Charlotte)

1) Evening Dress. A black crape frock over a black sarsnet slip….
2) Walking Dress. A high dress composed of bombazeen; the bottom of the skirt is ornamented with black crape…

And in “General Observations on Fashion in Dress”: (p. 362-363)
A short  period only has elapsed since we had the pleasure of recording in this department of our Magazine, the gay changes which the marriage of our adored Princess had made in the world of Fashion. How little did we then anticipate the melancholy task at present assigned to us, of describing the mourning worn for her by a country who looked up to her as its future ruler, and who witnessed with delight the gradual development of those virtues which proved her the true descendant of her venerable grandfather. ..

The court mourning consists as usual, of crape, bombazeen, and ling lawn; and such is the general wish to show every possible respect to the memory of our lamented Princess, that the materials for court mourning are generally adopted by all persons of fashion, whether connected with the court or not…

Bombazine frocks appear to be universally adopted in dinner dress. They are always cut very low around the bust, and are very short in the waist…The bodies of dresses are now more becomingly made than they were some time back, as the sleeve just touches the point of the shoulder…

The full dress which we have given in our print is the most elegant novelty that has appeared in evening costume. We have since seen at one of our most fashionable milliners, evening dresses composed of black crape, which were full trimmed with white crape. This is not inconsistent with the deepest mourning, and these dresses are peculiarly calculated for very young ladies; though they are equally adopted, as we understand, by those of middle age.”

[The response in fashions from France, where court mourning, to the surprise of many, was declared as 6 days of deep mourning and 5 of slight, is also described in the “French Female Fashions” section. It concludes with “Next month I shall endeavor to describe to you the dresses considered most fashionable; because, although I suppose your mourning in England will be at least of three months’ duration, yet you may perhaps have some things which I shall describe to you made up in black.”]

1818, January
1) Evening Dress “Black crape frock over a black sarsnet slip: the body is composed of what crape tastefully ornamented with deep vandykes of black velvet…[worn with a white crape toque]
2) Carriage dress “Bombazine high dress: the body which is made quite plain, fastens behind. There is no collar but it is full tried round the throat with black crape…With this dress is worn the Russian wrapping-cloak, composed of tufted mole-skin cloth, and lined with black sarsnet…”

And in “General Observations of Fashion and Dress”:
“The mourning garb of our fair notaries of Fashion has experienced little alteration since the publication of our last number…

Black bombasine is universally worn for dinner dress, and is also adopted for social evening parties.”

The bodies of other dresses are made partially high round the back of the neck; the back is plain, and buttons up behind with small jet buttons; the front has a little fullness at each side of the shoulder-step; the middle of the bust is plain…Plain long sleeves…We recommend this dress, at least the manner in which the body part is made, to those of our subscribers who are of the middle age; it is at once delicate and becoming. We understand that several matronly ladies of distinction have given orders for dresses made in this style, and we shall be glad to see it generally adopted.

Black crape over black sarsnet is universally adopted for full dress…

We understand that it is expected, dresses both of bombasine and black crape, trimmed with white crape, will be worn, particularly by young ladies. We consider this as very likely, because it is still very deep mourning, though less gloomy than all black: we have not yet, however, seen any of them.

Several trimmings, composed of black crape and intermixed with scarlet, are we understand in preparation for some very dashing elegant. This mixture of black and scarlet has of late years been tolerated even in the deepest mourning; in our opinion if is far from appropriateand we believe it is now likely to be confined to those ladies whom the French would style merveilleuses…

It is almost superfluous to mention, that all ornaments for the hair etc. at present are composed of jet. Gloves and shoes are always of black shames leather.”


1818, December  (mourning Queen Charlotte)
1) Evening Dress
A black crape dress over a black sarsnet slip: the body is cut very low and square round the bust, and is tight to the shape…Long sleeve, made very loose, and finished at the hand by a rouleau to correspond…
2) Walking Dress
A round dress of black bombasine; the body is made tight to the shape and up to the throat but without a collar…

And in “General Observations of Fashion and Dress”:
“The mourning for our late venerated and beloved Queen [Charlotte, George II wife] is equally deep and general: no wonder indeed that the whole English nation should be eager to pay a tribute of respect to the memory of a sovereign, whose truly feminine virtues added lustre to her exalted rank. The lord chamberlain’s orders for court mourning are, black bombasine, crape, long lawn, and plain muslin for dress; and dark Norwich crape for undress.”

1819, January, Half-Mourning (Queen Charlotte)
1) Walking Dress
A round dress of figured silk the ground grey, with a small black leaf…Over this dress is a pelisse composed of either black or grey velvet…
2) Evening Dress
A white crape round dress over a white sarsnet slip…black silk embroider all around…trimmed with jet

And in “General Observations of Fashion and Dress”:
“From a humane consideration for the numerous body of tradespeople whom a long continuance of deep mourning would be the means of seriously injuring, His Royal Highness the Prince Regent has graciously ordered a change of mourning in the beginning of this month. The mourning for the court consists of black silk with plain muslin; and on the 24th black silk with colored ribbons. We must observe, however, that this etiquette seems likely to be confined to the court, as the mixture of black and white in full dress, and black and grey in undress, is expected to be very general in the highest circles…

Grey or white lutstrings, poplins, and tablets, are in preparation for undress: the trimmings are crape…

This is the most lady-like slight mourning that we have seen; we say slight, because black sarsnet can never be considered deep mourning…

Black shoes, or half-boots, and white gloves for morning; and white gloves and shoes for evening: the latter have always black rosettes or clasps.”

1820, February (mourning HRH Duke of Kent)
Mourning Fashions (printed with black border)
1) Carriage Dress
A black bombasine half-dress gown, made a three-quarter height…a loose wrapping-coat is worn over this dress, which is composed of very fine black cloth.
2) Evening Dress
A black crape round dress, over a black sarsnet slip

1820, March (mourning George III)
1) Walking Dress
A high dress, composed of black bombasine…the pelisse worn over this dress is made of fine black cloth.
2) Evening Dress
A black crape round dress over a black sarsnet slip…

And in “General Observations of Fashion and Dress”:
The sombre hue which this department of our work assumed last month, in consequence of the death of a Prince universally and deservedly beloved and regretted, is destined to be continued on an occasion even still more melancholy: our excellent and venerable Sovereign, the true father of his people, to whom, for a period of nearly sixty years, we have looked up as the model of private and public virtue, is taken from us….

…we observe with surprise and regret, that the mourning is by no means of that deep and appropriate description which the occasion calls for. The lord chamberlain’s orders are in very few instances strictly attended to: black poplins, velvets, and silks of various descriptions, none of which can with propriety be called mourning, being as much, or more, worn, than black crape or bombasine. Norwich crape, the proper material for undress, is not used at all.

1820, April
1) Carriage Dress
A round dress, composed of French grey bombasine, and trimmed with black gauze
2) Evening Dress
A round dress, composed of white crape, spotted with white satin, it is worn over a white sarsnet slip: the skirt is moderately full, and is finished at the bottom by a wreath of flowers and leaves composed of black silk.

And in “General Observations of Fashion and Dress”:
“His Majesty has been graciously pleased, in consideration of the interests of trade, to shorten the period of mourning for his late venerable and lamented father…The first change for the courst is from bombasine and crape, to plain black silk; the undress, French grey bombasine: the next change is to be plain black silk, with colored ribbons or flowers; and it is expected, that white with black ornaments will likewise be worn…

The Lord Chamberlin’s orders must, of course, be complied with by those immediately about the court; but it is supposed, that black silk, with colored flowers and ribbons, will not be worn out of that circle. On the contrary, there is good reason to believe, that we shall adopt the fashion prevalent in France, of white dresses with black ornaments. …we have given one of the most elegant of these in our print.”

1820, September (mourning Princess Frederica Charlotte)
1) Cottage Dress
A round dress of drab-colored bombasine: the skirt is of moderate width; it is finished at the the bottom by a full plaiting of peach-colored satin ribbon…

And in “General Observations of Fashion and Dress”:
“The melancholy event of her Royal Highness the Duchess of York’s death, which took place early in August, has caused a delay in the autumnal fashions. The court mourning ordered for her Royal Highness was, in consideration, we presume, for the interests of trade, of a shorter continuance that the public expected…

The mourning was ordered only for the court, but it was nevertheless general with all persons who had any pretensions to fashion.

The mourning has been distinguished in general by the display of more taste, than the sombre, livery of woe usually admits of; the mixture of black and white has been very general.”

1821, September (Queen Caroline, George IV wife)
1) Walking Dress
A black bombasine high gown; the body is made tight to the shape…The pelisse which is worn over this is of black gros de Naples…
2) Evening Dress
A low gown made of a new material, black crape figured with black satin; it is worn over a black sarsnet slip: the corsage is cut square, and low round the bust, which is decorated with a wreath of white crape leaves…

And in “General Observations of Fashion and Dress”:
“The melancholy event of her Majesty’s death has obliged our fair fashionables to exchange the light and gay garb of summer for mourning dresses. The orders of the Lord Chamberlain for court mourning are the same as usual: black bombasine, crape, long lawn, and plain muslin for dress; but owing to the introduction within the last few years of black silk into mourning, we find that bombasine is less worn on the present occasion that sarsnet, lutestring, and grow de Naples.”

1821, December
And I must include this particularly interesting mention from the “French Female Fashion” correspondent:
“Black is still much in favor in full dress, particularly for public places: these gowns are made either of silk or crape, but in general the sleeves are of white satin or gauze. In order to shew that they are not in mourning, our elegant usually throw a Bayadere scarf, wither of orange, light blue, or pence, loosely over their shoulders: these colors contrast very well with the black, and contribute to enliven it.”

Black as a non-mourning color is again mentioned in 1822 (January: French Female Fashions)