Regency Fashion Archives

1805 Regency Group of Fashionable Ladies and Gentlemen in Jane Austen years. #RegencyEra #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten

Posted on October 31, 2026 by Suzi LoveOctober 21, 2026

1805 Regency Group of Ladies and Gentlemen dressed as Jan Austen and her family and friends would have dressed. Ladies in dresses, bonnets, shawls, gloves, and carrying a reticule, or bag, and a parasol. Gentlemen in tailcoats, overcoats, trousers, vests, cravats, hats, boots and shoes and carrying walking sticks. via Men And Women In Costumes, 1804-1829. The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division, The New York Public Library, U.S.A.

Description: Early 1800s Women’s Fashion: Typical outfits worn for daytime activities included 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. Reticules, or bags, were carried as these light dresses no longer had pockets.

Description: Cashmere Shawls: Beautiful and very expensive shawls originating from Kashmir in Europe, but spelled by Englishmen Cashmere. Fine, soft, and delicate wool provided by goats is woven in a long and complicated process.

Description: Early 1800s Men’s Fashion: By the early 19th century, men’s fashions had radically changed. Coats finished in long tails at the back and cut higher in front. Waist-length square-cut waistcoat showed beneath coats. Shoulders and upper chest of the coat was sometimes quilted to improve the fit and some dandies wore boned corsets to give them a small waist. Gradually, men adopted long trousers which were worn for day and informal dress but breeches were still worn at places like court and Almack’s Assembly Rooms.

1805 regency Group Of LadiesAndGentlemen

HN_23_D2D_Fashion Men 1800-1819 — https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionMen1800-1819

1805 Red Velvet Coat, or Redingote, Or Pelisse In Jane Austen Style. #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #Pelisse

Posted on October 31, 2026 by Suzi LoveOctober 5, 2026

1805 Red Velvet Redingote, French. Shoulder cape with satin piping on the coat, white dress underneath, black hat with flowers to trim and white gloves. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien. This is the type of outdoor walking dress, or pelisse, worn by Jane Austen and contemporaries in England as French fashion plates were obsessively copied despite the two countries being at war for many years. English fashion magazines frequently published plates copied from French fashion magazines.

This is the type of outdoor walking dress, or pelisse, worn by Jane Austen and contemporaries in England as French fashion plates were obsessively copied despite the two countries being at war for many years. English fashion magazines frequently published plates copied from French fashion magazines.

Definition Redingote, Pelisse, Walking Dress: 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.

1805 Red Velvet Redingote, French. Shoulder cape with satin piping on the coat, white dress underneath, black hat with flowers to trim and white gloves. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.

HN_26_D2D — Fashion Women 1805-1809 History Notes Book 26 What did Jane Austen and friends wear? This book looks at early 1800s fashions, which were elegant and pretty with high waists and fabrics that were almost transparent. These Empire style gowns, named after Napoleon’s first Empress, became popular throughout Europe, and were then copied around the world. Colorful outwear was added to make an ensemble more attractive and warmer. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809

1809 March Blue tunic over white walking dress, matching blue hat and reticule, or bag, in Jane Austen style. #RegencyEra #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion

Posted on October 30, 2026 by Suzi LoveOctober 5, 2026

1809 March. White walking dress as Jane Austen. would have worn in England. Pale blue tunic worn over a white dress and with an unusual blue hat trimmed in yellow to match the tunic. Carrying a matching blue reticule and wearing blue slippers and yellow gloves. Description on Fashion Plate, “A Polish cap, and pelisse of silver grey cloth, trimmed with gold or silver, buttoned down the front with small round buttons, a high collar, with a lace ruff ; boots of same colour as the pelisse, and both embroidered with gold or silver. York tan gloves. This dress was transmitted to a lady of high rank from Warsaw, and would alone evince the taste and elegance of the ladies of that country, were they not already sufficiently known. Engraved Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository’ of Arts.

Definition Reticule Or Ridicule Or 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.

1809 March Walking Dress, English. Pale blue tunic worn over a white dress and with an unusual blue hat trimmed in yellow to match the tunic. Carrying a matching blue reticule and wearing blue slippers and yellow gloves. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann's 'The Repository' of Arts.

Fashion Women 1805-1809 History Notes Book 26 What did Jane Austen and friends wear? This book looks at early 1800s fashions, which were elegant and pretty with high waists and fabrics that were almost transparent. These Empire style gowns, named after Napoleon’s first Empress, became popular throughout Europe, and were then copied around the world. Colorful outwear was added to make an ensemble more attractive and warmer. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809

HN_26_D2D Fashion Women 1805-1809
books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809 — Fashion Women 1805-1809 History Notes Book 26 What did Jane Austen and friends wear? This book looks at early 1800s fashions, which were elegant and pretty with high waists and fabrics that were almost transparent. These Empire style gowns, named after Napoleon’s first Empress, became popular throughout Europe, and were then copied around the world. Colorful outwear was added to make an ensemble more attractive and warmer. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809

1817 November Black Evening Mourning Dress As Worn In Bridgerton and Jane Austen Times. #Bridgerton #Jane Austen #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #Mourning

Posted on October 29, 2026 by Suzi LoveOctober 17, 2026

1817 November Evening Mourning Dress, English. Black short length dress, layers of feathers on the skirt, long lace headdress falling from an upswept hairstyle and black shoes. Fashion Plate via John Belle’s La Belle Assemblée or, Bell’s Court and Fashionable Magazine, London.

Mourning – Full Or Deep Mourning: Entire ensemble and accessories must be black. Shiny fabrics were not allowed so bombazine became the fabric of choice for many. Hats had veils added and jet was the preferred jewelry.

Mourning – Half or Slight Mourning: allowed touches of grey and white to be added to full, or deep, mourning ensembles. Some lustre, or shine, was allowed in fabrics and accessories. After a time, mauve or deep purple could also be worn.

1817 November Evening Mourning Dress, English. Black short length dress, layers of feathers on the skirt, long lace headdress falling from an upswept hairstyle and black shoes. Fashion Plate via John Belle's La Belle Assemblée or, Bell's Court and Fashionable Magazine, London.https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1815-1819

HN_28_D2D_FashionWomen 1815-1819
https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1815-1819 — HN_28_D2D_FashionWomen 1815-1819

1800-1830 ca. Reticule, or Bag, Shaped Like A Basket, from Bridgerton and Jane Austen Times. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #reticule

Posted on October 28, 2026 by Suzi LoveOctober 5, 2026

1800-1830 ca. Reticule, or Bag, American. Bottom of bag shaped like basket and made of stiff deep cream colored mohair with minute blue figure, two panels of light blue painted silk moiré, upper part of bag of deep cream colored figured silk, blue silk ribbon, drawstring and bows trimming lower part of bag. via Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, U.S.A. mfa.org

Definition Reticule Or Ridicule Or 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.

HN_3_PelisseRedingoteWalkingDress_universal http://books2read.com/suziloveReticules — D2D_RetailerBuyLink_HN_3 http://books2read.com/suziloveReticules

1817 November White Walking Dress and Brown Spencer As Worn In Bridgerton and Jane Austen Times. #Bridgerton #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten

Posted on October 26, 2026 by Suzi LoveOctober 17, 2026

1817 November Cambric Muslin Walking Dress, English. As would have been worn by Jane Austen and her female contemporaries when out walking. Row of pointed work forms a narrow pelerine, high on the bosom, and ends in a point in front. The skirt has a deep muslin flounce beneath a row of soft muslin bouffone. Brown Spencer of gros de Naples has figured buttons which are intermixed with an elegant trimming. Sleeves ends are like the hem with a double row of buttons and trimming. The newly fashionable epaulette is edged and finished with buttons on the shoulder. Autumnal bonnet has a large front, low crown, and ties under the chin with a large bow. Swansdown muff, lilac sandals and pale lemon kid gloves finish the ensemble. ‘We have been favored this month with both our dresses by a lady, one of our subscribers, who purchased them, we understand, at Mrs. Bell’s in St. James’s Street.’ Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’.

Definition Empire Style Dress: Named after the First Empire in France. Empire dresses had a low neckline and skirts started directly under the bust and flowed into the classical relaxed wide styles of Greece and Rome. This style of dress is associated with Jane Austen and her contemporaries as a high-waisted dress was worn most days. Cotton, silk or taffeta were the popular fabrics. Only the very wealthy could afford white dress in this style as the cottons were imported from India and had to be carefully cleaned, usually by a lady’s maid.

Definition Spencer: Short jacket, cropped at the waist, worn over a dress, or gown. These close-fitting, tight sleeved, waist length jackets were modeled on a gentleman’s riding coat, but without tails. Delicate and regency dresses provided so little protection from the cold, so over garments were essential for warmth, modesty and good health.

1817 November. Walking Dress, English. Brown Spencer over a white Empire style, high-waisted, walking dress with frilled hem, large white muff, brown bonnet with ruffles and ribbon to match. Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann's 'The Repository of Art

Jane Austen fan? Women’s dress styles around 1800. History Notes Book 12. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #nonfiction

Posted on October 25, 2026 by Suzi LoveOctober 25, 2026

Fashion Women 1800 By Suzi Love History Notes Book 12 #Regency #Fashion Love gorgeous historical women’s fashions? Take a look at what women wore and carried in 1800 in Europe and around the world. books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1800

Women’s dress changed dramatically after 1785. The rich fabrics and complicated, formal shapes of the late 18th century gave way to simple, light fabrics that draped easily. These new gowns achieved something of the effect of the simple tunics shown on classical Greek and Roman statues and vases. Inspired in part by the statuary of ancient Greece and Rome, the new fashion was epitomised by light cotton gowns falling around the body in an unstructured way, held around the high waist with a simple sash and accompanied by a soft shawl draped around exposed shoulders. This style was ideal for the Indian imports like Kashmiri shawls and Bengali muslin, as used in this embroidered gown. Championed by such influential figures as Emma Hamilton in England and Madame Récamier in France, the so-called ‘Empire’ style catapulted Indian muslin into the forefront of fashion.
Empire Dress: Owes its name, physical emancipation, popularity, and even its sexiness to France. In this English example, French style is slavishly followed in the gown’s high waist and modish stripes.
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.
Inspired in part by the statuary of ancient Greece and Rome, the new fashion was epitomised by light cotton gowns falling around the body in an unstructured way, held around the high waist with a simple sash and accompanied by a soft shawl draped around exposed shoulders. This style was ideal for the Indian imports like Kashmiri shawls and Bengali muslin, as used in this embroidered gown. Championed by such influential figures as Emma Hamilton in England and Madame Récamier in France, the so-called ‘Empire’ style catapulted Indian muslin into the forefront of fashion.

HN_12_Fashion Women 1800 By Suzi Love History Notes Book 12 #Regency #Fashion Love gorgeous historical women's fashions? Take a look at what women wore and carried in 1800 in Europe and around the world. books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1800

HN_12_D2D Retailer Buy Link
books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1800 — HN_12 D2D_RetailerBuyLink_HN_12 books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1800

1815 June Lady Reading Book Wearing Jane Austen Style White Carriage Dress. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #HistoricalFashion

Posted on October 25, 2026 by Suzi LoveOctober 5, 2026

1815 June White Carriage Dress, English. Lady reading a book in a high-waisted white satin Pelisse, or Walking Or Carriage dress in the relaxed Empire style as would have been worn at home in the early 1800s, or during Jane Austen’s time. Richly ornamented with clusters of leaves made in white twilled sarsnet, headed with tull. Open fronts, trimmed to the bottom of the waist with a superb shell trimming of white satin ribbon and tull, loose sleeves trimmed at the wrists. High hat of white satin and tull with a plume of feathers of the pomona green. Half-boots of similar color. Gloves en suite and a necklace. Lady is viewing paintings and the program in her hand says ‘British Institution’. In this issue of The Repository there is an article called ‘Exhibition of Paintings by the Flemish and Dutch Masters at the British Institution, Pall Mall.’ Fashion Plate via Rudolph Ackermann’s ‘The Repository of Arts’.

1809 Women’s Fashions in Jane Austen Times: Dresses, Shawls, Hats and Jewelry. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #HistoricalFashion

Posted on October 25, 2026 by Suzi LoveOctober 20, 2026

Definition Shawls: The shawl started off in India as a fine wool garment for men that could be worn as a scarf, turban or as a mantle: the word comes from the Persian shäl. Originally imported from the East, European Kashmir shawls were made first in Norwich and Edinburgh in Britain in the late 18th century. Shawls were an essential item in the early 1800s to cover the thin gowns women wore. They were made of muslin, gauze, silk, wool, and velvet, though cashmere shawls were the softest and most prized.

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.

History Notes Book 26. Fashion Women 1805-1809 This book looks at early 1800s fashions, which were elegant and pretty with high waists and fabrics that were almost transparent. These Empire style gown named after Napoleon’s first Empress, became popular throughout Europe, and were then copied around the world. Colorful outwear was added to make an ensemble more attractive and warmer. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809

Definition Empire Style Dress: Named after the First Empire in France. Empire dresses had a low neckline and skirts started directly under the bust and flowed into the classical relaxed wide styles of Greece and Rome. This style of dress is associated with Jane Austen and her contemporaries as a high-waisted dress was worn most days. Cotton, silk or taffeta were the popular fabrics. Only the very wealthy could afford white dress in this style as the cottons were imported from India and had to be carefully cleaned, usually by a lady’s maid.

Definition Reticule Or Ridicule Or Bag or Purse or Handbag: 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.

1809 Red Coral Necklace. Striped gown made of Levantine and decorated with shells around the hem, French. Very wide bodice, short sleeves, long gloves, and a red turban hat. Fashion Plate via suzilove.com and Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien. — 1809 Red Coral Necklace. S

1809 White Dress with a Fichu with a High Frill, French. Green patterned shawl, green shoes, green Levantine hat. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, Costume Parisien. suzilove.com — 1809 Red Coral Necklace. S

HN_26_D2D Fashion Women 1805-1809
https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809 — Fashion Women 1805-1809 History Notes Book 26 What did Jane Austen and friends wear? https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809

1807 Healthful Dipping In Jane Austen Times. Lady in chemise preparing to dip in spa waters. #Underclothing #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion

Posted on October 25, 2026 by Suzi LoveOctober 19, 2026

1807 Healthful Dipping. Lady in her white linen chemise, or shift, preparing to take a dip in the spa waters. Scenes of Spa life. By F. Eginton, New Bath Guide. ‘How the ladies did giggle and set up their clacks, All the while an old lady was rubbing their backs.’ From Anstey’s ‘The New Bath Guide’. In Jane Austen’s novels, the resorts of Brighton, Scarborough, Cromer, Lyme and the fictional Sandy ton or Sanditon all get mentions. Women bathed in the sea, via bathing machines pulled down to the water’s edge, or promenaded along beautiful walkways, such as in Cheltenham, near Bat in Britain. Visiting seaside resorts became very popular during the Regency years. Le Beau Monde, or fashionable society, went to spa and beach towns to ‘take the waters’ or to holiday in a fashionable town. To see and be seen. Ladies dressed in light muslin gowns but added colorful accessories to make outfits more interesting.

Chemise Or Shift: Sleeveless, mid-calf length garment of white cotton or muslin was worn next to the skin under stays or corset. Called ‘Shift’ from early Georgian (1700-1750) until Late Georgian (1750-1790) to replace ‘Smock’. By 1800, name replaced by ‘Chemise’.

Suzi Love

Making history fun, one year at a time.

Category Archives: Regency Fashion