Did Regency ladies ever get sunburnt?
Seaside walking dress from La Belle Assemblée (Aug 1810)
Where I live in Weymouth, Dorset, on the South coast of England, we have enjoyed another day of gloriously hot sunny weather. Fortunately, I have avoided getting sunburnt, but my daughter has not been so lucky, and has a few sore red patches of skin which the sun cream missed.
Weymouth has been a popular seaside resort for more than 250 years and was visited many times by George III and his family.
You can read more about George III in Weymouth here.
It made me wonder whether Regency ladies ever 'caught the sun' and what they would do about it if they did. Was it even possible to get sunburnt, given that ladies wore outfits like the seaside walking dress above when they were beside the sea?
Marine promenade or seaside walking dress from La Belle Assemblée (Oct 1823)
‘Good for taking off sunburnings’
I came across the following recipe for fard in The Mirror of the Graces, which says that it is ‘good for taking off sunburnings’1:
This appears to answer both my questions: ladies did occasionally get sunburnt and they may have used home-made fard to treat it.
An effective after-sun treatment?
I thought that fard sounded quite pleasant until I discovered that spermaceti was a white waxy substance chiefly found in the head cavities of the sperm whale which was widely used in the production of candles, ointments and cosmetics at the time!
A pipkin is a small earthenware or metal cooking pot with three feet and a handle which is used for cooking over direct heat, such as an open fire. Essential equipment if you wanted to make your own cosmetics in the Regency period.
Almonds, honey and whale wax. I wonder whether it was effective.
Details of the seaside walking dress from 1810
The full description reads:
A gown of white French cambric, or pale pink muslin, with long sleeves, and antique cuffs of thin white muslin, trimmed with Mechlen edging; made high in the neck, without a collar, and formed in points at the centre of the bosom, with three rows of letting-in lace; confined down the front of the dress with small buttons; and hemmed round the bottom with three rows of deep Mechlen lace; made rather short, and worn over trowsers of white French cambric, which are trimmed the same as the bottom of the dress.
A cap composed of lace and light green silk trimming, tied under the chin, with a bunch of natural flowers in front. Hair in full ringlet curls, divided in the front of the forehead. A figured short scarf of pale buff, with deep pale-green border, and rich silk tassels; worn according to fancy or convenience; with gloves of pale buff kid; and sandals of pale yellow, or white Morocco, complete this truly simple but becoming dress.2
Details of the seaside walking dress from 1823
The full description reads:
A pelisse of marshmallow blossom coloured Gros de Naples, with a superb embossed trimming down each side of the front and round the border, representing foliage and outspread tulips; next the hem at the bottom of the skirt is a very full and broad rouleau. A narrow collar turns back, and is surmounted by a collarette of fine muslin, which falls over, and is trimmed with Mechlin lace.
A bonnet of white Gros de Naples, ornamented with gauze and tuberoses, is placed very backward over a lace cornette, and is tied under the chin with a brocaded ribbon the colour of the pelisse. Parasol of white sarsnet; a reticule, shaped like the shepherd’s purse, is of lemon coloured Morocco, ornamented with silver or polished steel. Shoes of marshmallow blossom coloured kid, and lemon-coloured kid gloves complete this costume, which is more adapted to the carriage and the public promenade than the sea-side; however, it has been finished for the latter purpose for a lady of high rank and fashion, and as such we present our readers with a beautiful engraving of a dress, as tasteful as it is elegant.3
Rachel Knowles writes faith-based Regency romance and historical non-fiction. She has been sharing her research on this blog since 2011. Rachel lives in the beautiful Georgian seaside town of Weymouth, Dorset, on the south coast of England, with her husband, Andrew, who co-writes this blog.
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Notes
A lady of distinction, The Mirror of the Graces; or the English lady's costume (1811).
Bell, John, La Belle Assemblée (Aug 1810)
Bell, John, La Belle Assemblée (Oct 1823)
Sources used include;
A lady of distinction, The Mirror of the Graces; or the English lady's costume (1811)
Bell, John, La Belle Assemblée (John Bell, 1810, 1823, London)
