Two women, one tall and pretty, except for her grotesque slimness, the other short, fat, and ugly, wear burlesqued versions of the new fashions. Each walks, holding a glove in the (gloved) right hand, a nosegay in the left hand. Under each is a supplementary title: (left) 'st james's giving the ton, a soul without a body'; (right) 'cheapside aping the mode, a body without a soul'. The former has a tiny waist, her breasts, lightly covered, project above it. Round her neck is a swathing connected with inflated puffs on her tight sleeves; her form is defined under the limp skirt. Another swathing seems to fasten a high straw scoop-like hat under her chin which shows her hair piled above her forehead. This is trimmed with an erect ostrich feather and a brush-aigrette. She wears sharply pointed slippers. The contour of the other lady, a 'city fussock', see bmsat 8905, is broad and squat; she looks up with an ogling grin, her mouth half hidden by the swathing at her neck. Her feather, aigrette, and nosegay are much larger than those of her fashionable model. Fat legs and broad feet show under a petticoat which projects from her short waist. Cf. Bmsat 8571, &c. 9 december 1794
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1794. Dimensions: Height: 327 mm; Width: 359 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. Following the Fashion (BM 1851,0901.706)
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