Category Archives: underclothing

Love the Bridgertons and Jane Austen? Mourning, riding, dresses, underclothing, accessories. History Notes Book 24 Box Set. #JaneAusten #Regency #HistoricalFashion

Suzi Love Posted on by

An overview of women’s fashions in the first twenty years of the 19th century. What was fashionable for women in Jane Austen’s times, or the early 1800s. Wars were being fought around the globe so women’s fashion adopted a military look in support of soldiers. In Britain, the Prince Regent ruled instead of his father, King George III, so fashions, like the lifestyle, became more extravagant and accessories went from pretty to opulent.

Reader Or Writer of Regency Era? Love Jane Austen and Bridgerton fashions? What was fashionable for women in Jane Austen’s times, or 1800s, or Regency Era. High-waisted dresses were extravagantly accessorized and hats, shoes, parasols and bags were added. Set includes History Notes Books 12, 25, 26, 27 and 28. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomenBoxSet

Ladies clothing in the early 1800’s featured a high waist line called an Empire Line, or Empire style dress, with a waist line just under the natural bust line and much higher than the natural waist. The high-waisted, or short-bodied, Regency styles shifted focus away from the natural waist and so left the natural waist unconstricted, in direct contrast to previous and future styles. Britain took these simple European styles and progressively made them more elaborate by adding more and more complicated embroidery onto white fabrics to create the white on white look popular for many years.  

The empire look of fine muslin dresses left women more exposed than in the Georgian Era when fabrics had been thicker and styles bulkier. Women, especially in England, preserved their modesty by adding lace, frills, flounces, ruches, and fabric plaits to dresses to adequately cover any parts that might inadvertently be exposed. Outer layers, such as Spencers, Redingotes or Pelisses or coats, and shawls, were also added for warmth and to brighten outfits. This Empire fashion was totally dependent on a supply of fine, translucent cotton muslin – at first imported from India, then later, less exclusive imitations often woven and printed or embroidered in Britain. Fabrics were soft and lightweight and muslins and other cotton fabrics from India and other Asian countries were in high demand.

HN_24_Fashion Women 1800-1819 Box Set History Notes Book 24 An overview of the first twenty years of the 19th century. These books look at what was fashionable for women in Jane Austen's times, or the early 1800s. Wars were being fought around the globe so women's fashion adopted a military look in support of soldiers. In Britain, the Prince Regent ruled instead of his father, King George III, so fashions, like the lifestyle, became more extravagant and accessories went from pretty to opulent. This set includes books 12, 25, 26, 27 and 28. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomenBoxSet
HN_24_D2D Fashion Women 1800-1819 Box Set https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomenBoxSet

1810-1850 ca. Bridgerton or Jane Austen Style Front Lacing Corset With Extra Wide Straps, American Or European. #Bridgertons #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #Corset #RomanticEra

Suzi Love Posted on by

1810–1850 ca. Corset, American or European. Front lacing, extra wide straps for under a
square neckline dress. via Metropolitan Museum, N.Y.C., U.S.A. metmuseum.org

1810–1850 ca. Corset, American or European. Front lacing, extra wide straps for under a square neckline dress. via Metropolitan Museum, N.Y.C., U.S.A. metmuseum.org

Surviving stays, or corsets as they became to be called in the nineteenth century, show that both longline and shorter corsets were worn and that they were made of cotton, silk and sateen. A lot of these corsets were front fastening, plus many were laced at both the front and the back so our aristocratic fictional heroines could indeed dress and undress themselves without the assistance of a maid.

Corsets 1810-1830 History Notes Book 17 This book shows how corsets changed to fit well under clothing,  give maximum support and comfort. Corsets pushed up breasts and showed off the bust line beneath a square-cut and low-cut neckline as in the early 1800s, or Regency years. Jane Austen and her female and friends wore these corsets. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveCorsetBook17

HN_17_D2D_Corset_1810-1830 https://books2read.com/SuziLoveCorsetBook17
HN_17_D2D_Corset_1810-1830

1800 ca. Jane Austen Style Fawn Cotton Bodiced Petticoat With Front Lacing. #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #FashionHistory #underclothing

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1800 ca. Fawn Cotton Bodiced Petticoat With Front Lacing, English. via National Trust Collections, UK. nationaltrustcollections.org.uk

Because dresses were so light and airy as to be almost see-through, petticoats were needed to protect a woman’s modesty. If a glimpse of an ankle was supposed to turn a man’s head, imagine what would happen if he saw an entire lady’s exposed leg.

Did Jane Austen wear this type of petticoat under her dress? Probably. This wide necked, small shoulder straps and Empire, or high-waisted, undergarment would have provided some warmth plus protect the modesty of Regency Era women. This would be worn under the high-waisted, wide necked, small bodiced type of thin, or even almost transparent, dresses of the early 1800s.

1800 ca. Fawn Cotton Bodiced Petticoat With Front Lacing, English. via National Trust Collections, UK. nationaltrustcollections.org.uk
HN_12_D2D Retailer Buy Link books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1800
HN_12 D2D_RetailerBuyLink_HN_12 books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1800

1750-1770 Ca. Back Lacing Linen Corset, European. #GeorgianEra #Corset #HistoricalFashion

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1750-1770 ca. Back Lacing Linen Corset, European. Made of linen, lining of natural linen, chamois leather to strengthen, straps of linen, stiffening of whalebone. Corset: deep point, hip flaps, lacing at the back, Netherlands.

1750-1770 ca. Back Lacing Linen Corset, European. Made of linen, lining of natural linen, chamois leather to strengthen, straps of linen, stiffening of whalebone. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveCorsetBook15

Description: Quilted linen corset with vertical tunnels and with ribs. Whalebone stiffening, point on front, hip flaps, front shoulder straps of fabric plus long narrow linen strips to tie. Lined and has chamois leather at armpits, front point and waist. Linen corset with a deep thickened point at the front, hip flaps, and lacing at the back. Fully quilted with vertical tunnels, with ribs. Thickened tip at the front is slightly triangular. Above for round shape due to wide horizontal rib. Flares from the waist into hip phlangers, or fingers.  Lacing eyelets and criss-crossed lacing at the back.
Front shoulder straps are of the fabric with very long linen straps with narrower linen strap, total 110 cm, and two horizontal linen loops on top of the backs. There is a narrow linen strip on all seams and along all edges. Armpits and the front point are reinforced with chamois leather and chamois leather is at the waist with straps attached. Via  Mode Museum Province of Antwerp

1750-1770 ca. Back Lacing Linen Corset, European. Made of linen, lining of natural linen, chamois leather to strengthen, straps of linen, stiffening of whalebone.

Corsets 1700-1790 History Notes Book 15 This book shows how body wraps, stomachers and stays were worn during the 1700s. They created a variety of fashionable silhouettes to suit the elaborate fashions worn for court and daily life during the 18th Century. Wearing the correct underclothing was essential for keeping garments in place and giving the best fashion display. 

HN_15_D2D_Corsets 1700-1790

1740–1760 ca. Silk and Cotton Petticoat. #Georgian #Underclothing #HistoricalFashion

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1740–1760 ca. Silk and Cotton Petticoat. via Suzi Love ~ suzilove.com
& Metropolitan Museum, N.Y.C., U.S.A. metmuseum.org

1740–1760 ca. Silk and Cotton Petticoat. via Suzi Love ~ suzilove.com & Metropolitan Museum, N.Y.C., U.S.A. metmuseum.org
HN_1_D2D_Fashion Women 1700s books2read.com/suziloveFashWomen1700s
HN_1 Fashion Women Late 1700s History Notes Book 1 by Suzi Love. What was fashionable for women in the late 1700s? Extravagant colors and fabrics and outrageous styles were all seen in these flamboyant fashions. books2read.com/suziloveFashWomen1700s

1820s Woman’s Lace Trimmed Pantalettes With Separate Legs. #RegencyFashion #FashionHistory #Underclothing

Suzi Love Posted on by

1820s Woman’s White Cotton and Lace Trimmed Pantalettes with Two Separate Legs. About 1806, French made female form of gentleman’s drawers, pantalettes. During the 19th Century, children wore them but women only wore them for a short time to keep up with French chic. The predecessor of women’s panties appeared about 1806 in the form of drawers like those worn by gentleman. Always the leader in forward chic, the French quickly came up with the female version—pantalettes. While the style persisted throughout the 19th century for children, pantalettes for adult women were only a passing fad. The pantalettes consist of two separate legs attached to a drawstring waistband, leaving the crotch open. The legs are bordered at the bottom with bands of needle run lace. The pantalettes are completely hand stitched and close in back with one mother-of-pearl button. The open edges of the crotch are finished with corded piping. via vintagetextile.com

1820s Front View Woman's White Cotton Pantalettes. Drawstring Waist. Two separate legs attached to waistband with crotch open, leg hems have bands of needle run lace. About 1806, French made female form of gentleman's drawers, pantalettes. During the 19th Century, children wore them but women only wore them for a short time to keep up with French chic. vintagetextile.com
1820s Back View Woman's White Cotton Pantalettes. Drawstring Waist. Two separate legs attached to waistband with crotch open, leg hems have bands of needle run lace. About 1806, French made female form of gentleman's drawers, pantalettes. During the 19th Century, children wore them but women only wore them for a short time to keep up with French chic. vintagetextile.com
1820s back Crotch View Woman's White Cotton Pantalettes. Drawstring Waist. Two separate legs attached to waistband with crotch open, leg hems have bands of needle run lace. About 1806, French made female form of gentleman's drawers, pantalettes. During the 19th Century, children wore them but women only wore them for a short time to keep up with French chic. vintagetextile.com
1820s Drawstring Waist View Woman's White Cotton Pantalettes. Drawstring Waist. Two separate legs attached to waistband with crotch open, leg hems have bands of needle run lace. About 1806, French made female form of gentleman's drawers, pantalettes. During the 19th Century, children wore them but women only wore them for a short time to keep up with French chic. vintagetextile.com
1820s Banded Hem View Woman's White Cotton Pantalettes. Drawstring Waist. Two separate legs attached to waistband with crotch open, leg hems have bands of needle run lace. About 1806, French made female form of gentleman's drawers, pantalettes. During the 19th Century, children wore them but women only wore them for a short time to keep up with French chic. vintagetextile.com
1820s Three View Woman's White Cotton Pantalettes. Drawstring Waist. Two separate legs attached to waistband with crotch open, leg hems have bands of needle run lace. About 1806, French made female form of gentleman's drawers, pantalettes. During the 19th Century, children wore them but women only wore them for a short time to keep up with French chic. vintagetextile.com
D2D_RL_4_YLD_Young Lady's Day Regency Life Series Book 4 by Suzi Love. A light-hearted look at the longer Regency years and an easy to read view of what a young lady did, wore, and lived. https://books2read.com/suziloveYLD
D2D_RL_4_YLD_Young Lady's Day Regency Life Series Book 4 by Suzi Love. A light-hearted look at the longer Regency years and an easy to read view of what a young lady did, wore, and lived. https://books2read.com/suziloveYLD

Love Jane Austen and the Bridgertons? Easy to read overview of what an older lady did, wore, and how she lived in Jane Austen’s time. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #RegencyEra #BritishHistory

Suzi Love Posted on by

Easy to read overview of what an older lady did, wore, and how she lived in Jane Austen and Bridgerton’s time. Information for history buffs and pictures for readers and writers of historical fiction.  Older Lady’s Day Regency Life Series Book 5 by Suzi Love books2read.com/suziloveOLD

Older Lady’s Day Regency Life Series Book 5 by Suzi Love #Regency An easy to read overview of what an older lady did, wore, and how she lived in the early 19th Century. Information for history buffs and pictures for readers and writers of historical fiction. books2read.com/suziloveOLD
RL_5_D2D_RetailerBuyLink_RL_5_2 https://books2read.com/suziloveOLD

1820-1840 ca. Hand-Embroidered Wedding Corset, Connecticut, USA. #Regency #Corset #RomanticEra

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1820-1840 ca.  Hand-Embroidered Wedding Corset,   Connecticut, USA. Ivory cotton covered with hand embroidery, including love birds on hearts, front pocket for busk, eyelets for back lacing. Trapunto (to embroider) cording decorates and shapes corset.  The back closure has ivory eyelets for the lacing.  The center-front has a pocket panel for inserting a busk. Trapunto (to embroider) shapes the corset by outlining the design with two or more rows of running stitches and then padding from the underside which gives a raised effect.The technique was always considered very elegant. Trapunto first appeared in 14th century Sicily and was widely adopted for clothing in Tudor England, and then brought to America by the new settlers. In addition to the cording, the corset is totally covered with hand-embroidered flowers and there are two embroidered love birds on hearts at the center-front. Above the birds is a section of trapunto work. via Vintage Textiles

1820-1840 ca. 1 Hand-Embroidered Wedding Corset, Connecticut, USA. Ivory cotton covered with hand embroidery, including love birds on hearts, front pocket for busk, eyelets for back lacing. Trapunto (to embroider) cording decorates and shapes corset. The back closure has ivory eyelets for the lacing. The center-front has a pocket panel for inserting a busk. Trapunto (to embroider) shapes the corset by outlining the design with two or more rows of running stitches and then padding from the underside which gives a raised effect.The technique was always considered very elegant. Trapunto first appeared in 14th century Sicily and was widely adopted for clothing in Tudor England, and then brought to America by the new settlers. In addition to the cording, the corset is totally covered with hand-embroidered flowers and there are two embroidered love birds on hearts at the center-front. Above the birds is a section of trapunto work. via Vintage Textile.
1820-1840 ca. 2. Hand-Embroidered Wedding Corset, Connecticut, USA. Ivory cotton covered with hand embroidery, including love birds on hearts, front pocket for busk, eyelets for back lacing. Trapunto (to embroider) cording decorates and shapes corset. The back closure has ivory eyelets for the lacing. The center-front has a pocket panel for inserting a busk. Trapunto (to embroider) shapes the corset by outlining the design with two or more rows of running stitches and then padding from the underside which gives a raised effect.The technique was always considered very elegant. Trapunto first appeared in 14th century Sicily and was widely adopted for clothing in Tudor England, and then brought to America by the new settlers. In addition to the cording, the corset is totally covered with hand-embroidered flowers and there are two embroidered love birds on hearts at the center-front. Above the birds is a section of trapunto work. via Vintage Textile.
1820-1840 ca. 3 Hand-Embroidered Wedding Corset, Connecticut, USA. Ivory cotton covered with hand embroidery, including love birds on hearts, front pocket for busk, eyelets for back lacing. Trapunto (to embroider) cording decorates and shapes corset. The back closure has ivory eyelets for the lacing. The center-front has a pocket panel for inserting a busk. Trapunto (to embroider) shapes the corset by outlining the design with two or more rows of running stitches and then padding from the underside which gives a raised effect.The technique was always considered very elegant. Trapunto first appeared in 14th century Sicily and was widely adopted for clothing in Tudor England, and then brought to America by the new settlers. In addition to the cording, the corset is totally covered with hand-embroidered flowers and there are two embroidered love birds on hearts at the center-front. Above the birds is a section of trapunto work. via Vintage Textile.
1820-1840 ca. 4. Hand-Embroidered Wedding Corset, Connecticut, USA. Ivory cotton covered with hand embroidery, including love birds on hearts, front pocket for busk, eyelets for back lacing. Trapunto (to embroider) cording decorates and shapes corset. The back closure has ivory eyelets for the lacing. The center-front has a pocket panel for inserting a busk. Trapunto (to embroider) shapes the corset by outlining the design with two or more rows of running stitches and then padding from the underside which gives a raised effect.The technique was always considered very elegant. Trapunto first appeared in 14th century Sicily and was widely adopted for clothing in Tudor England, and then brought to America by the new settlers. In addition to the cording, the corset is totally covered with hand-embroidered flowers and there are two embroidered love birds on hearts at the center-front. Above the birds is a section of trapunto work. via Vintage Textile.
1820-1840 ca. 5. Hand-Embroidered Wedding Corset, Connecticut, USA. Ivory cotton covered with hand embroidery, including love birds on hearts, front pocket for busk, eyelets for back lacing. Trapunto (to embroider) cording decorates and shapes corset. The back closure has ivory eyelets for the lacing. The center-front has a pocket panel for inserting a busk. Trapunto (to embroider) shapes the corset by outlining the design with two or more rows of running stitches and then padding from the underside which gives a raised effect.The technique was always considered very elegant. Trapunto first appeared in 14th century Sicily and was widely adopted for clothing in Tudor England, and then brought to America by the new settlers. In addition to the cording, the corset is totally covered with hand-embroidered flowers and there are two embroidered love birds on hearts at the center-front. Above the birds is a section of trapunto work. via Vintage Textile.
1820-1840 ca. 6 Hand-Embroidered Wedding Corset, Connecticut, USA. Ivory cotton covered with hand embroidery, including love birds on hearts, front pocket for busk, eyelets for back lacing. Trapunto (to embroider) cording decorates and shapes corset. The back closure has ivory eyelets for the lacing. The center-front has a pocket panel for inserting a busk. Trapunto (to embroider) shapes the corset by outlining the design with two or more rows of running stitches and then padding from the underside which gives a raised effect.The technique was always considered very elegant. Trapunto first appeared in 14th century Sicily and was widely adopted for clothing in Tudor England, and then brought to America by the new settlers. In addition to the cording, the corset is totally covered with hand-embroidered flowers and there are two embroidered love birds on hearts at the center-front. Above the birds is a section of trapunto work. via Vintage Textile.
HN_17_D2D_Corset_1810-1830 https://books2read.com/SuziLoveCorsetBook17
HN_17_D2D_Corset_1810-1830

18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays #Corset #HistoricalFashion #GeorgianFashion

Suzi Love Posted on by

18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway

In the early 18th century, stays were basically quilted waistcoats, laced in the front and un-boned and to be worn on informal occasions.  Mid century, the role of stays changed. They were then supposed to create a V shaped form and support a woman’s back, so baleen from whales was inserted into the garments and backs became longer. 

Eyelet holes were stitched and staggered in spacing, so stays could be spiral laced. Stays were strapless or had straps attached in the back and tied at the front sides.  Eyelet holes were stitched and staggered in spacing, so stays could be spiral laced.  Later, they began to support the bust, give a fashionable conical shape, and draw shoulders back. 

It was around the 1790s that the term corset started to be used as a refined name for stays. The Times of 24 June 1795 stated that: ‘corsettes about six inches long…are now the only defensive paraphernalia of our fashionable belle’.

corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
corset_18th Century Wool, Leather And Linen Front Lacing Stays. via digitalmuseum.norway
HN_15_D2D_Corsets 1700-1790

1817 Dandy In Blue Tailcoat With White Breeches Tucked Into Boots As Seen In Bridgerton and Jane Austen Times. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #RegencyEra

Suzi Love Posted on by

1817 Dandy In Blue Tailcoat, French. White breeches tucked into black boots with tan leather high tops, fob at waist, high white cravat, red waistcoat, black top hat and walking stick. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.

Dandy: The author of The Hermit in London, a series of sketches published in 1819—1820 observed: ‘A distinguished Exquisite is padded all over to-day; and all the other foplings are, on the morrow, mere walking pin-cushions. A fat prince, or a fat dandy, requires confinement in his limbs; and all his subjects are immediately restrained within the same limits. One day, the back is to be as broad as an Irish chairman’s, and the shoulders to be bolstered up to imitate a hod-man; and the next, the shoulders are to be flat, and a man is to be pinched in and laced up until he resembles an earwig. All these are Master Snip’s maneuvers, who continues to make his bill equally long, whether the spencer or the box-coat be in vogue.

Beau Brummell was one of the most celebrated dandies of all time. Cartoonists ridiculed these high-in-the-instep gentlemen who wore the most fashionable clothes and set the fashion trends for the Regency years, the years when Jane Austen was writing her famous novels and the years when the Bridgerton series is set.

1817 Dandy In Blue Tailcoat, French. White breeches tucked into black boots with tan leather high tops, fob at waist, high white cravat, red waistcoat, black top hat and walking stick. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.
HN_23_D2D_Fashion Men 1800-1819
https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionMen1800-1819