The clothes Olivia bought in Paris...

FRENCH FASHIONS

OPERA DRESS. A DRESS composed of rose-coloured

chaly

, a low

corsage

finished by a lappel of a perfectly novel shape, which falls very far over the sleeve, and is embroidered in a light running pattern in white lloize silk. The sleeves are between the

Amadis

and

gigot

shape. The fronts and border of the dress are embroidered

en tunique

in white floize silk. The embroidery, narrow at the waist, becomes progressively broader, and is very rich round the border. The

chemisette

, which falls, en

pelerine

, over the bust of the dress, is trimmed with a double fall of blond lace, set on with very little fulness; it is fastened in front by a richly-chased dead gold brooch. A rose-coloured crape hat; the crown is low, and round; the brim, short at the ears, and rather deep, is ornamented on the inside with

palmettes

of gauze ribbon to correspond: on the outside is a blond lace drapery which falls a little over the left side of the brim, turns hack

en bavolet

, and passes under the right side, where it meets the

palmettes

. This drapery is ornamented with a loose

rouleau

of gauze ribbon, terminated at each end, by a full bow. A

bouquet

of rose-coloured ostrich feathers, is placed near the top of the crown on the right side. The hair is parted on the forehead.  Ear-rings, bracelets, and

ceinture

buckle dead gold.

  WALKING DRESS. A HIGH dress composed of

gros de Naples

; the colour, a new and extremely rich shade of brown. The corsage, made to sit close to the shape, is ornamented in a very novel style with a row of points lightly embroidered, which forms it in a heart shape before and behind. The sleeves are

à l'Amadis

. The pelerine is made with a standing three-pointed collar, which descends in front in the lappel style. A very broad trimming is set on full round the border of the pelerine: it is surmounted by a row of

pattes

with a gold button in the centre of each. Satin hat of the same colour, lined with white satin, but bordered with the material of the hat round the edge of the brim, the inside of which is trimmed with

coques

of lilac and white striped gauze ribbon. Bands and bows of ribbon arranged in a novel style decorate the crown. Neckknot to correspond with the dress, fastened by a gold clasp.

Bottines

of chocolate coloured

gros des Indes

. A sable boa tippet, or cachemere shawl, should be thrown carelessly round the shoulders.

What Olivia wore

Alert readers will have noticed the comments running through

Last Night’s Scandal

regarding fashions.   I thought I would post some illustrations, to give you a better sense of what my characters were talking about.

You'll find the description for the Carriage Dress and Bonnet(at left) over at

Two Nerdy History Girls

.  Here's more from FASHIONS FOR NOVEMBER, 1831 from

La Belle Assemblée

. 

DINNER DRESS. A DRESS of rose-coloured

gaze Polonais

, over a

gros de Naples

slip of a similar colour. The

corsage

is cut low ; it sits close to the shape behind; the front is arranged in folds which cross so high in the centre of the bosom, that very little of the blond lace

chemisette

is seen. The sleeves are between the

gigot

and

Amadis

form, but incline more to the latter shape. The

chemisette

is made with a round collar, which falls low over the back and shoulders, and is trimmed with a double fall of blond lace. The hair is parted on the forehead, and arranged in a platted braid

en couronne

on the summit of the head. The ends of the braid, disposed in corkscrew ringlets, fall over the comb placed behind the

couronne

. A

ferronière

composed of gold chain, with a ruby

agraffe

, is brought rather low upon the forehead. The jewellery worn with this dress should be of gold and rubies. Swansdown boa tippet.

Julia Child's Kitchen

A few weeks ago, on a trip south for a wedding, we stopped in Washington D.C. for a couple of days, to visit friends and, of course, museums.  I have a long list of places in D.C. I want to visit, but there's never enough time for more than one or two.  This time, inspired by Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci's marvelous performances in Julie and Julia, I went straight to the Smithsonian to visit Julia Child's Kitchen. 

(To be strictly accurate, my journey was somewhat straight.  It was necessary to detour round the Boy Scouts parade.  There were several thousand of them in town that weekend, and the 100+ temps made even those brave lads faint, some of them.  But more of that at another time.)

Following up on my blog about Julia Child at Two Nerdy History Girls, here, for you viewing pleasure, are more photos.

There's a ton of fascinating info about Julia Child and her kitchen here, at the Smithsonian's Museum of American History site.