1819 January ‘Laceing a Dandy.’ Dandy in underwear, laces of his corset pulled by two servants, left young black page, right French valet with high collar. Dandy, “Fore Gad ye wretches you’ll never get my Stays tight enough go brute and call John James & Thomas, To help you take care you don’t Spoil by Breasts”. Published by: Thomas Tegg. Hand colored etching. Via British Museum, London, UK. britishmuseum.org (PD-Art)
1818 Dress and Spencer, French. Bright blue velvet Spencer over a white dress with velvet lace at hem, large brimmed white bonnet, black shoes. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.
1790-1810 ca. Fichu Or Shoulder Shawl. Jane Austen and her female family and friends would have worn a Fichu over a light muslin dress for both warmth and modesty. via Metropolitan Museum New York City, U.S.A. metmuseum.org.
Definition Fichu: Triangular piece of lace, muslin, or other cloth worn about the neck and cleavage to fill in a low bodice or neckline and preserve a lady’s modesty. From the French ‘thrown over’. The Bridgerton family and Jane Austen and her female family and friends would have worn a Fichu over a light muslin dress for both warmth and modesty.
19th Century First Quarter Red Mesh Reticule, British. Small mesh bags known as reticules were the must-have “it bags” of 1800-1825. Too small for carrying much more than a few coins, reticules were often shown in satirical prints as a fashionable foible of women’s attire. Knit into an elegant lantern-like shape, this example survives with its original ribbon trim making it a particularly lovely and rare example of a short-lived fashion trend. via Metropolitan Museum, N.Y.C., U.S.A. metmuseum.org
Definition Reticule: Bag or purse, often with a drawstring to pull closed and usually made of cloth or covered cardboard and often decorated with beading or embroidery. A reticule, or purse, or handbag, was usually carried by a woman during the Regency period to carry all their daily necessities. Earlier, women used pockets that tied at the waistline and were hidden in the folds of their skirts. Empire style, or early 1800s, high-waisted dresses made it impossible to either sewn in a pocket or to tie on a pocket. So women began carrying small, decorated bags called Reticules, or ridicules, which generally pulled close at the top with a drawstring.
1826 Cheltenham Spa, England. From Regency Life Around England In Jane Austen’s Times. From The English Spy By Robert Cruikshank. via Google Books (PD-180)
1805-1810 ca. Red Shoes With Laces. via Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. mfa.org
In Jane Austen’s years, she and her contemporaries spent a lot of time walking outdoors. People were encouraged to partake in outdoor pursuits to maintain good health. Fragile slippers were worn for balls and evening events but for walking sturdier shoes were needed, In the early 1800s, these were typically made of leather, had a very small heel, slightly rounded toes and were laced up on the top.
1800-1810 ca. Yellow Kid Women’s Slippers, British. The sort of shoes Jane Austen and her female friends and family would have worn. Kid shoes bound in kid over white linen, very pointed toes, fronts trimmed with yellow silk tassel fixed by small steel buckle, back of shoe faced with yellow kid
printed with pattern in black, heel of kid and leather. via Manchester Galleries ~ manchestergalleries.org
Shoes in the early 1800s were flat or low heeled and occasionally decorated with a bow or floral embellishments and it wasn’t until the 1820s that square, rather than rounded or pointed toes became fashionable. Made of soft kid or cloth, these delicate shoes were flimsy and wore out quickly. There was often no difference between a left or right shoe, so when one slipper had a hole it was easily replaced. Slippers were often bought in multiples at a time so there were spares.
1826 The Dinner Party. Social Life. From 1826 The English Spy By Robert Cruikshank. via Google Books (PD-180). https://books2read.com/suziloveOLD
1817 February Pelisse, or Redingote, English. Carriage dress of white poplin with a deep blond flounce. Blue levantine pelisse or walking dress, or Redingote in France, shorter than the dress and edged with floss silk. Coburg cap of black velvet turns up on one side in front and is lined and edged with blue satin. The head-dress worn with it has a profusion of white ostrich feathers. Ruff is of plain blond, edged with narrow white satin ribbon, and a pink Indian scarf over the shoulders. An ermine muff, gloves and slippers of blue kid, complete the elegant dress. Fashion Plate via John Belle’s La Belle Assemblée or, Bell’s Court and Fashionable Magazine, London.
Definition Coat or Redingote Or Pelisse: Long fitted outdoor coat worn over other garments for warmth. French word developed from English words, riding coat.
1826 Bath Beau and His Lady. Photo Editing By Suzi Love. ~ suzilove.com
From: 1826 The English Spy By Robert Cruikshank via Google Books (PD-150)
