Fashion plate, from La Belle Assembleé

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This hand-coloured fashion plate is from La Belle Assembleé, a ladies' monthly magazine published in London. The plate illustrates a court dress and appeared in issue no 149 on 1 June, 1821.

The text at the foot of the plate reads, 'Invented by Mrs Bell, No 52 St James's Street'. Mary Ann Bell, who may have been related to the magazine's founder, John Bell, was a leading London dressmaker.

From around 1814, her stylish creations rivalled those being produced in Paris. Nobles and gentry were invited to come and see her costumes at the beginning of each month.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-104-771-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.RHI 19.25
• Date: 1 June 1821
  1821
  
• Material: Paper. Inscription: Court Dress. Invented by Mrs Bell, No. 52 St James's Street.
  Document / plate, fashion
  
• Dimensions: 9.00" x 5.20"
  
• What: Document / plate, fashion
  
• Subject: Fashion plates
  
• Who: La Belle Assemblee
  Mrs Bell
  
• Where: England, London
  England, London, St James's
  
• Event:
• Description: Fashion plate showing a court dress invented by Mrs Bell, from La Belle Assemblee, number 149, 1 June 1821
  
• References:
  • Langley Moore, Doris. Fashion through Fashion Plates 1771-1970. London: Ward Lock Ltd, 1971, pp 21-2. 
• Translations:
• Related Records: