1800’s Flat men’s shoes, presumably part of the livrée-like Römer servant’s uniform of the type worn until 1866. via historisches-museum.frankfurt.de


1811 Lady’s Redingote, or Pelisse, or Walking Dress, French. Blue Levantine walking dress, with pale blue hat of Drap. Fashion Plate via Journal des Modes et des Dames, or Costume Parisienne.
The term, Redingote, was used more in France and other parts of Europe and Pelisse or Walking Dress was used more in England. While the terms Redingote and Pelisse are often used interchangeably, the Redingote usually features a close fitted top and flares out at the hemline with a more tailored or military look than a Pelisse. Redingotes or Pelisses were needed to cover the flimsy dresses made of lightweight fabrics of the Regency years to provide warmth and some protection from windy conditions when gowns might lift and cause modesty issues. In Europe, a Redingote was a coat or robe like garment worn both indoors and out, indoors left open to reveal a dress while the outdoor version was made of heavier materials and of darker colors than the type worn indoors. The name comes from the term ‘riding coat.’

Definition Drap: Made of wool, shiny and velvety after treatment, hair uniformly laid in the direction of the cut, thick and resistant. Used for coats.
Definition Levantine: Stout silk cloth in twill weave. First made in the Levant, a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia.

1808 Gorgeous Women’s Fashion In The Times Of Jane Austen. Fashion plates from Journal des Dames et des Modes or Costume Parisien. Dresses, coats or Redingotes, Spencers in purple and red, shawls, fichu or shoulder cape, shoes, hats and headdresses, gloves, and Reticules or bags. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809







1807 Gentleman’s Half Dress, French. Green cutaway tailcoat, white vest, white frilled shirt with very high white cravat, white breeches with red fob at waist, white stockings, black shoes, black top hat and carrying a cane. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.
French fashions and Georgian and Regency Era fashions from Great Britain were copied around the world. This is the normal daily outfit for a gentleman in the early 1800s, or in the times of Jane Austen, for daily city and country life. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionMen1800-1819


These silk stays have a small repeat floral brocade in rose, white, and green. There are cream, leather-backed waist tabs, stitched eyelets, and pink and tan linings. These stays, or corset, are unusual because they have both front and back lacings. This means that a lady could step in and out of her stays and then tighten the front lacing herself, thereby eliminating the need for assistance from a maid or dresser.
Women of the middle and lower classes needed to be able to dress themselves as they have no one to assist in tightening their lacings when they dressed. Most upper class ladies would be able to call upon a maid to help and would therefore generally use back lacing stays.






What did an older lady do and wear in the Regency Era? Information & pictures for readers and writers of early 1800s history, nonfiction and fiction. books2read.com/suziloveOLD The older lady’s day usually started with her toilette in her bedroom, where her maid helped her dress for the day and styled her hair. After that, she would join her family downstairs for breakfast unless she preferred a tray with either tea or hot chocolate in her bedroom as she prepared for her busy day. Her day would be made up of speaking with the housekeeper and the cook about the week’s menus, assuring that the servants were all available that day and no one was ill, and checking the list of foods needed.

She would also enquire if the laundry was up to date and that they had enough good linen to make up all the beds before extended family members and guests arrived. If she was in the country and hosting a weekend house party, she would assign rooms to the guests on her lists and query that all was in readiness for their arrival.



1809 Women’s Fashions: Dresses, Shawls, Hats and Jewelry from various fashion magazines. Typical of the outfits worn by Jane Austen and her contemporaries for daytime and evening activities. An Empire style, or high-waisted white cotton dress worn under a Spencer or short jacket, a Redingote, or coat, for warmth and with pretty hats, shawls and shoes.

The first wedding rings can be traced back to the Ancient Egyptians when they exchanged rings made from braided reeds and hemp. The tradition of exchanging rings dates back 3,000 years. The first diamond wedding ring was recorded in the will of a widow who died in 1417. The ancient Egyptians believed in the vena amoris, literally the “vein of love” that runs directly from the heart to the fourth finger on the left hand. For the Ancient Greeks, the engagement ring was symbolized with a plain gold band worn on the left hand and at the marriage the same band was shifted to the right hand.
An engagement ring is given at a proposal or when a couple decides to get married whereas a wedding ring is exchanged at the wedding ceremony and represents the official bond of marriage and the binding pledge between spouses. Wedding rings symbolise eternal love and commitment within a relationship and are worn to show the world they are married. During the wedding service, the couple will say their vows to each other while exchanging rings.
Is a wedding ring biblical? : The use of wedding ring is not commanded in the Bible, and there is no indication that it was ever practised in the New Testament. The use of finger ring in the Bible was as a symbol of authority.
Betrothal ring: An old Roman custom confirming that the marriage contract would be carried out. It was the first part of a dowry given, and meant the woman was no longer for sale as the first part of the monetary settlement had been paid. The first betrothal, or engagement, rings were given because there was often a long time between betrothals and weddings. These were usually simple bands of gold, silver, or iron as on royalty or very wealthy people could afford gemstones and diamonds. In 1477, Archduke Maximillian of Austria commissioned the very first diamond engagement ring for his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy, and many of the European aristocracy and nobility followed his lead.
Wedding ring: Many primitive peoples who believed in magic used a rope around the waist or the hand and feet, and later a ring, to symbolise that the bride was captured and spoken for, and also to ward off any evil spirits hovering around the bride and ensure marital bliss.
The ring hand: A symbol of the humiliating tradition of the man as the master – the right hand of the family – and the woman being the slave . The right hand stood for power and authority while the left hand expressed submission and serfdom.
The ring finger : Ancient Greek and Roman anatomists believed a vein, the vena amoris or the “vein of love”, or a nerve led from the heart to the third finger, the healing finger , so they romantically linked this finger to the heart. Now we know that this is not true and there is no vein that runs from our ring fingers to our hearts. There are also some more practical reasons the third finger continues to be used. It’s the most prominent for displaying a ring and it cannot be extended to its full length on its own and usually remains slightly bent, preventing the ring slipping off.
The Wedding Ring: Also goes on the left ring finger because it is the only finger with a vein that connects to the heart although some countries, such as India, Germany, Spain, Norway, and Russia traditionally wear their wedding rings on their right hand.
Viking Wedding Rings: These were mostly made of silver and bronze and rarely of gold with the designs inspired by Norse Gods, geometric shapes, runes, and animal totems
Gimmel Rings: In the 16th and 17th centuries, European husbands gave their bride a gimmel ring with two interlocking bands. The bride and groom both wore one after their engagement and during the wedding ceremony the rings were joined and the wife wore the ring.
World Wars: During the first World War, many men on the front began wearing wedding rings as a remembrance of their wives and families at home. That custom carried through to World War Two so in the 1950s wedding rings for men became common practice.
Tri-Gold Rings: Gold is the traditional ring metal but some people prefer a mix of colors. Yellow gold represents fidelity, rose gold romantic love, and white gold friendship, so a tri-gold ring symbolizes your shared past, present, and future path. ding ring to symbolize all three, as well as your shared past, present, and future path.
Black Wedding Rings: Some couples choose black wedding bands because they represent everlasting commitment and the color can also mean power, strength and sophistication.
Anniversary or Push Ring: Given on the birth of a first child or an anniversary, usually an important one such as the first, five-year or 10-year anniversary.