I want to talk about anything else but I have nothing else to talk about

Probably the most interesting thing I'm taking away right now (I'm in 1805, cropping and reading - stopped taking notes, I tend to be too detailed and waste a lot of time) is that in the 1800s and probably 1810s, the gown really was not that important to fashion. The descriptions are always about ribbons, hats, shoes, hairstyles, and what colors these things are (not hairstyles obvs). While the text is also completely full of crap - one week "oh nobody has short hair anymore it's totally gone", next week "everyone has their hair so short!" (that said there are mentions of wigs, so maybe not entirely crap) - the colors tend to stay within a narrow range each season and it seems like it overall moves pretty slowly. I think it's less that the wealthy bought new gowns frequently and less wealthy women refreshed theirs, and more that everyone expected to retrim, though at different rates.

Chapeaux and capotes are two different things, but it's not totally clear how. AFAICT fur, felt, and straw are only used in hats, and capotes always have a soft crown. I think they may have been sold by different vendors as well. Toques have no brims and toquets have no brims and are made of light fabric, sold by linen-makers.

Today I learned that lol_meme is still using the whole rustling sheets thing. Because I was a failure at life in 2008 (2007?) who thought she would rustle her sheets to try to make her sucky roommate know she was awake and turn off the damn light. That is my lasting contribution to the internet, a new term for being annoyed.

With you in spirit, Julie!