Friday 3 May 2013

Regency Snippets - Regency Drapery Misses

In the penultimate canto of Don Juan, George, Lord Byron mentioned drapery misses, young ladies of pleasing appearance who were walking advertisemants for some dressmaker or other. The woman would give their families a large discount on the clothes if the girls were willing to tell everyone where her their gowns etc., were made. Naturally, the girls needed to be pretty and mingle with members of society who could afford the dressmaker's prices.