Carriage dress
Medium
silk, cotton
Measurements
(a) 24.0 cm (centre back) 60.0 cm (sleeve length) (spencer)
(b) 34.0 × 116.0 cm (bodice)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of Krystyna Campbell-Pretty AM and Family through the Australian Government’s Cultural Gift Program, 2025
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work
Dress etiquette of the Regency period (1811–20) prescribed specific silhouettes for different occasions. The carriage dress was designed for daytime outdoor activities, specifically riding in carriages. It was typically made from heavier, more structured fabrics, as seen in this example, which is constructed from a bombazine weave, in which the weft (horizontal threads) is twisted or corded to achieve a density of cloth. The dress is also trimmed with padded horizontal bands at the hem, weighing the garment down for modesty when travelling.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
(Scotland)
Accession Number
2025.736.a-b
Department
International Fashion and Textiles