This book is really useful to me for the color patterns in the fabric as well as the colors for period fashion. Also, hairstyles, hats, and even shoes are detailed enough to reference for my own illustrations.
The original journal, "Petit Courrier des Dames", was for the wealthy and fashionable woman. It was so popular in Paris that the English translated it for the fashionable Englishwomen who looked to France for the latest styles. The plates feature fashions for both wealthy women and men with captions that generally state the type of material used or some brief descriptive detail
(ie: "Rice-straw hat, jaconet dress, French cashmere shawl. [No. 835; September 25, 1831.]")
Pictures show costumes front and back views, standing and seated (mostly the women). There is 1 plate of young boys' costumes, 5 of Gentlemen, and the rest are of Ladies with 1 small collection of bonnets.
Each page offers two separate costumes.
There is a two page Introduction that explains the original French source material for Dover's edition, brief summary of characteristics of Men's, Children's and Women's fashion in the Romantic Era, and a compact glossary of materials and garments now with a loose English equivilent material.
The one tiny issue I have is that the edition I received sported a different cover than the pink one above. The interior content is the same.