La Belle Assemblée
Introduction ''La Belle Assemblée'', title page, Volume III, July to December 1807'''''La Belle Assemblée''''' (in full '''''La Belle Assemblée or, Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine Addressed Particularly to the Ladies''''') was a British women's magazine published from 1806 to 1837, founded by John Bell (1745–1831).
Publishing history The magazine was published as ''La Belle Assemblée'' from 1806 until May 1832.It became ''The Court Magazine and Belle Assemblée'' from 1832 to 1837.After 1837 the ''Belle Assemblée'' name was dropped when the magazine merged with the ''Lady's Magazine and Museum'' (itself a merger of ''The Lady's Magazine'' and a competitor) to become ''The Court Magazine and Monthly Critic''.It was published by John Bell from 1806 until his retirement in 1821, and by G. & W. Whittaker & Co. from 1823 to 1829.Between these dates the magazine was listed as "Published for the proprietors".
Content ''La Belle Assemblée'' is now best known for its fashion plates of Regency era styles, but until the 1820s it also published original poetry and fiction, non-fiction articles on politics and science, book and theatre reviews, and serialized novels, including ''Oakwood Hall'' by Catherine Hutton. Other notable contributors to ''La Belle Assemblée'' include Mary Shelley. Contributions from readers were also encouraged and published.In the 1820s, changing expectations of the role of women in British society coincided with a marked decrease in the intellectual scope of ''La Belle Assemblée'' and its competitors, which increasingly focused on fashion and domestic pursuits.Until spring 1822, the fashion plates were labeled a month ahead, e.g., the plates published in May 1810 were marked June 1810.Mary Ann Bell was a well known contributor to the fashion content in the publication.The changes in the early 1820s may have resulted from John Bell's retirement some time in 1821.
Similar magazines Similarly titled fashion publications included ''The Penny Belle Assemblée or Maids, Wives and Widows' Gazette of Fashions'' (1830s), the ''Weekly Belle Assemblée'', and its successor the ''New Monthly Belle Assemblée'' (1834–1870).
See also * Gallery of Fashion* List of 18th-century British periodicals* List of 18th-century British periodicals for women* List of 19th-century British periodicals
Plates from ''La Belle Assemblée'' File:Fashion Plate (English Fashions in Novr. 1806 - Parisian Fashions in Novr. 1806) LACMA M.86.266.59.jpg|Fashion plate, Nov 1806 (from Oct 1806 issue)File:Fashion Plate (Morning Walking Dresses) LACMA M.86.266.73.jpg|Fashion plate, Aug 1808 (from Jul 1808 issue)File:Fashion Plate La Belle Assemblee 1809.jpg|Fashion plate, 1809File:Fashion Plate (Parisian Head Dresses for April) LACMA M.86.266.100.jpg|Fashion plate, May 1812 (from Apr 1812 issue)File:Fashion Plate (Blucher Bonnet and Spencer) LACMA M.86.266.179.jpg|Fashion plate, Jun 1814 (from May 1814 issue)File:Carriage Costume LACMA M.86.266.249.jpg|Fashion plate, Jan 1817 (from Dec 1816 issue)File:Ballgown La Belle Assemblee 1818.png|Fashion plate, ballgown, 1818File:Fashion Plate (English Evening Dress) LACMA M.86.266.284.jpg|Fashion plate, Jan 1820 (from Dec 1819 issue)File:Fashion Plate (Walking Dress) LACMA M.86.266.325.jpg|Fashion plate, Jun 1822 File:Harriet Charlotte Beaujolois Viscountess Tullamore 1826.jpg|Portrait of the Rt. Hon. Harriet Charlotte Beaujolois, Viscountess Tullamore, engraved by John Cochran, 1826File:Duchess of Northumberland La Belle Assemblee 1829.jpg|Charlotte Percy, Duchess of Northumberland. Stipple engraving by T. A. Dean, 1829
References
External links * Plates from ''La Belle Assemblée''* ''La Belle Assemblée'' Volume III