Category Archives: People

1805-1810 ca. Jane Austen Style, High-Waisted, White Muslin Evening Dress, Possibly French. #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #sewing

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1805-1810 ca. High-Waisted White Muslin Evening Dress, Possibly Made in France.  Embroidered in white cotton in French knots, with collars, border, and vertical stripe in chain stitch with a design down the front of vine tendrils and acorns. Low square neck with draw-cord, ‘stomacher’ front closing over inner lining flaps. Straight cut skirt gathers at back and fastens with tape tie. Long oval train, short sleeves with ‘vandyke’ trimming.  An evening ensemble typical of the early 19th century love of Neo-classical where this high-waisted dress with short sleeves copies Greek and Roman shape and dress as seen in sculptures from the time. White muslin fabric was usually imported from India but in the case, made in Europe to imitate Indian materials.  via  Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK.  collections.vam.ac.uk. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809

Definition Van Dyke Points: V-shaped lace and trims named after a 17th Century Flemish painter, Sir Anthony Van Dyck, known for painting V-shaped lace collars and scalloped edges on sitters.

Definition Empire Style:  Named after the First Empire in France, by 1800 Empire dresses had a very low décolleté, or neckline and a short narrow backed bodice attached to a separate skirt. 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 simple cotton high-waisted dress was worn most days and accessorized according to the importance of the occasion.

1805-1810 ca. High-Waisted White Muslin Evening Dress, Possibly Made in France. #Regency #JaneAusten #Fashion https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809
1805-1810 ca. High-Waisted White Muslin Evening Dress, Possibly Made in France. #Regency #JaneAusten #Fashion https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809
1805-1810 ca. Jane Austen Style, High-Waisted, White Muslin Evening Dress, Possibly French. #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #Victoriaandalbert https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809 Share on X
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How did people travel in Bridgerton and Jane Austen’s years? What did they take to make themselves comfortable? #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #GeorgianEra #RegencyEra #VictorianEra

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Travel and Luggage By Suzi Love History Notes Book 10. How did people travel in Bridgerton’s and Jane Austen’s times? What did they take with them to make their long journeys easier? Travel by road, ship, canal, or railway all took a long time and had dangers so people learned to prepare. And then, in the nineteenth century, road improvements, inventions, and scientific developments made travel more pleasurable. books2read.com/SuziLoveTravel

HN_10_Travel and Luggage By Suzi Love History Notes Book 10. How did people travel in Jane Austen's times. In past centuries? What did they take with them to make their long journeys easier? Travel by road, ship, canal, or railway all took a long time and had dangers so people learned to prepare. And then, in the nineteenth century, road improvements, inventions, and scientific developments made travel more pleasurable. books2read.com/SuziLoveTravel
How did people travel in Bridgerton and Jane Austen's years? What did they take to make themselves comfortable? #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #GeorgianEra #RegencyEra #VictorianEra https://www.books2read.com/SuziLoveTravel Share on X
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“One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty.” Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice (1813) #JaneAusten #Quote #Regency

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“One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty.” Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice (1813) #JaneAusten #Quote #Regency

"One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty.” Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice (1813) #JaneAusten #Quote #Regency
"One cannot be always laughing at a man without now and then stumbling on something witty.” Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice (1813) #JaneAusten #Quote #Regency https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashion1810-1814 Share on X
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1800 – 1820 ca.  Bag, Or Reticule, Dutch. Cotton, glass and with drawstring. #RegencyFashion #Holland #bag #sewing

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1800 – 1820 ca.  Bag, Or Reticule, Dutch. Cotton, glass and with drawstring. via Metropolitan Museum New York City, U.S.A. metmuseum.org http://books2read.com/suziloveReticules Because reticules were so popular, Jane Austen and her family and friends and the Bridgerton family would have made reticules for each other for gifts and carried these small purses with them whenever they went out.

From Historic Dress In America: ‘Reticules were so universally carried during the first part of the nineteenth century that they were called Indispensables, and a few years later ridicules. Miss Southgate describes one in a letter in 1802, ‘Martha sent me a most elegant Indispensable, white lute-string spangled with silver…’

Definition Reticule 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.

• Beadwork:  Attaching beads to one another by stringing with a needle and thread or thin wire, or sewing them to cloth.  Includes loom weaving, stringing, bead embroidery, bead crochet, and bead knitting.

• Embroidery:  Decorating fabrics with a needle and thread, or cloth, such as a needlepoint picture of a house or hand sewn initials. 

bag_1800 – 1820 ca. Bag, Or Reticule, Dutch. Cotton, glass and with drawstring. via Suzi Love suzilove.com and Metropolitan Museum New York City, U.S.A. metmuseum.org

1800 – 1820 ca. Bag, Or Reticule, Dutch. Cotton, glass and with drawstring. #janeausten #bridgerton #RegencyFashion #Holland http://books2read.com/suziloveReticules Share on X
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Jane Austen Or Bridgerton Style Chatelaines or Personal Necessities. Set of useful items hung from waist by decorative chain. #bridgerton #RegencyEra #JaneAusten #Chatelaine

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Chatelaines and Chains History Notes Book 9 By Suzi Love. What do you know about Chatelaines and Chains worn in Jane Austen’s and Bridgerton times? Women in charge of households carried important items with them. History Notes Book 9 Chatelaines and Chains. books2read.com/SuziLoveChatelaines

Personal Necessities, keys, or chatelaines was a set of useful items hung from waist by decorative chain. Chatelaines and Chains. History Notes Book 9 By Suzi Love. Women in charge of households dangled long chains from their waists to keep essentials within easy reach e.g. keys, notebook and pen, watch, sewing items, vinaigrette or perfume, or magnifying glass. Early chatelaine were simple essentials. Later chatelaine were decorative and expensive. http://books2read.com/SuziLoveChatelaines

HN_9 Chatelaines and Chains History Notes Book 9 books2read.com:SuziLoveChatelaines

Definition Chatelaine: The word Chatelaine is French and means the keeper of the keys. Chatelaine” derives from the Latin word for castle. In Medieval times, the chatelaine was in charge of the day-to-day running of the castle. Women in charge of households dangled long chains from their waists to keep essentials within easy reach e.g. keys, notebook and pen, watch, sewing items, vinaigrette or perfume, or magnifying glass. Early chatelaine were simple essentials. Later chatelaine were decorative and expensive. books2read.com/SuziLoveChatelaines

What did a chatelaine do? Most important task was keeper of the keys. Also ordered supplies, did bookkeeping, supervised servants, taught castle children, and organized guests.

hat were chatelaines used for?

  • Castle keepers needed keys safe, yet easily accessible.
  • By 1700’s, a metal jeweled ornament hung from pockets, attached to belts, or by hooks into skirt waistbands
  • During 1800’s, women wore large collections of tools hung from chains
  • Young girls sewed and did needlework and needed to carry sewing notions eg scissors, thimbles
  • Worn by women of all classes, from workers to nobility
  • Varied depending on class and finances.
  • Made of silver, brass, steel, leather, or fabric
  • During 19th century, fashionable dresses often had no waist and nowhere to hang chatelaines
  • Chatelaines became decorative brooches
  • Often given as a wedding present from a husband to bride
  • Later became fashion accessories
Chatelaines: Set of useful items hung from the waist in Jane Austen and Bridgerton years. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #chatelaine #BritishHistory books2read.com:SuziLoveChatelaines Share on X
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1804-1815 ca. Fawn Cotton Dress With Embroidery Beading In Jane Austen Style. #RegencyEra #JaneAusten #HistoricalFashion

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1804–1815 ca. Fawn Cotton Dress With Embroidery Beading, Austrian. Simple Empire style dress with A-line skirt from a high waistline and short bodice as Jane Austen and contemporaries across Europe would have worn. Fawn colored cotton with deep bead embroidered hem, embroidery on the wrists and around the wide scooped neckline. Transparent fabrics of the early were beginning to be replaced with fabrics with more weight that were less likely to tear. Plain silks in vivid colors were at first made up in the simple lines of muslin dresses but then plain gowns began to be decorated with intricate contrasting applications and beading. This dress was part of “The Fine Art of Costume” exhibition, 1954 October 15th at the Met Museum, N.Y.C. via Metropolitan Museum, NYC, U.S.A. metmuseum.org.

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.

1804-1815 ca. Front Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Front Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Back Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Back Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Side Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Side Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Black and White. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Black and White. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Black and White Group. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Black and White Group. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Beading View. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Beading View. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Beading View. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Beading View. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Beading View. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Beading View. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Beading View. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Beading View. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Beading View. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Beading View. Fawn Cotton Dress with Bead Embroidery, Austrian.
1804-1815 ca. Fawn Cotton Dress With Embroidery Beading, Austrian. #Regency #JaneAusten #Fashion https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809 Share on X
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1817 Couple In Jane Austen and Bridgerton style Walking Dress and Gentleman in Same Green Redingote. #bridgerton #janeausten #RegencyFashion

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1817 Couple In Jane Austen and Bridgerton style Walking Dress and Gentleman in Same Green Redingote.

Lady: Blue satin Spencer over a white dress with puffed trimming around hem, pink bonnet, white ruff and tucker. Man: Long green Redingote, or overcoat, in the English style.  Long brown trousers, striped waistcoat or vest, top hat, gloves and boots. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien. Definition Redingote Or Coat Or Pelisse: Long fitted outdoor coat worn over other garments for warmth. French word developed from English words, riding coat. French fashion plates call these coats a Redingote and English plates call them a Pelisse, Or Walking Dress, or Carriage Costume. These are the types of outfits worn by Jane Austen and contemporaries in English magazines, where French fashions were obsessively copied despite the two countries being at war for many years.

This same Fashion Plate is seen below for the gentleman.  

1817 Couple In Walking Dress, French. Lady in a blue satin Spencer over a white dress with puffed trimming around the hem, pink bonnet, white ruff and tucker around her neck. Man in a full length dark green Redingote, or overcoat, over loose, or Cossack style, brown trousers, striped waistcoat, black boots, and top hat.
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1817 Long Green Straight Redingote, or Greatcoat, French. Gentleman wearing an English style overcoat, long brown trousers, striped waistcoat or vest, top hat, gloves and boots. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionMen1800-1819
1817 Long Green Straight Redingote, or Greatcoat, French. Gentleman wearing an English style overcoat, long brown trousers, striped waistcoat or vest, top hat, gloves and boots. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.

1817 Couple In Jane Austen and Bridgerton style Walking Dress and Gentleman in Same Green Redingote. #bridgerton #janeausten #RegencyFashion https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionMen1800-1819 Share on X
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1808 Hats, Capotes, Caps as worn by Jane Austen and contemporaries. #Regencyfashion #JaneAusten #Hats

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1808 Hats, Capotes, Caps as worn by Jane Austen and contemporaries. #Regencyfashion #JaneAusten #Hats Velvet, Satin and Crepe. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.


French fashions like this were copied by English magazines so these styles of hats would have been worn by Jane Austen and her contemporaries.

1808 Hats, Capotes, Caps. Velvet, Satin and Crepe. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.

1808 Hats, Capotes, Caps. Velvet, Satin and Crepe. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.

1808 Hats, Capotes, Caps as worn by Jane Austen and contemporaries. #Regencyfashion #JaneAusten #Hats https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809 Share on X
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1816 May. Wedding Dress of Princess Charlotte as Worn in Bridgerton and Jane Austen Years. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #Royalty #WeddingDress

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1816 May Wedding Dress Of Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796-1817). Worn at her wedding to Prince Leopold Saxe-Coburg. Silk satin high-waisted bodice with short puffed sleeves, dipping neckline, underskirt, overskirt, train and apron. Created by Mrs Triaud, London dressmaker although this may not be the original skirt. Metallic embroidery was very fashionable for court dress in early 19th Century despite the cost and delicacy but was an unusual choice for Princess Charlotte who preferred to dress simply. via Museum of London, UK. museumoflondon.org.uk

The wedding dress of Princess Charlotte Augusta as described in La Belle Assemblee magazine for May, 1816.

“As we have been gratified with a sight of the wedding dresses of this amiable and illustrious female, a particular yet concise account of them cannot but be acceptable to our fair readers. The Royal Bride, happy in obtaining him whom her heart had selected, and whom consenting friends approved, wore on her countenance that tranquil and chastened joy which a female so situated could not fail to experience.

 Her fine fair hair, elegantly yet simply arranged, owed more to its natural beautiful wave than to the art of the friseur; it was crowned with a most superb wreath of brilliants, forming rosebuds with their leaves. Her dress was silver lama [lamé] on net, over a silver tissue slip, embroidered at the bottom with silver lama in shells and flowers.  Body and sleeves to correspond, elegantly trimmed with point Brussels lace.  

The manteau was of silver tissue lined with white satin, with a border of embroidery to answer that on the dress, and fastened in front with a splendid diamond ornament. Such was the bridal dress … The jewellery of the royal bride is most superb; beside the wreath, are a diamond cestus, ear- rings, and an armlet of great value, with a superb set of pearls. 

1816 May Wedding Dress Of Princess Charlotte of Wales (1796-1817). Worn at her wedding to Prince Leopold Saxe-Coburg. Silk satin high-waisted bodice with short puffed sleeves, dipping neckline, underskirt, overskirt, train and apron. Created by Mrs Triaud, London dressmaker. Metallic embroidery was very fashionable for court dress in early 19th Century despite the cost and delicacy but was an unusual choice for Princess Charlotte who preferred to dress simply. via Suzi Love suzilove.com & Museum of London, UK. museumoflondon.org.uk
1816 May. Wedding Dress of Princess Charlotte as Worn in Bridgerton and Jane Austen Years. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #Royalty #WeddingDress https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1815-1819 Share on X
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19th Century Early Silk Reticule, Or Bag, With Embroidered Flowers As Carried In Jane Austen Or Bridgerton Times. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #Reticule

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1800 ca. White Silk Reticule. Gathered into square top with filigree edge, piped with green satin. Embroidered with green velvet ivy sprays applied with gold couching. Lined with white silk. Handmade. bowesmuseum.org.uk http://books2read.com/suziloveReticules

1800 ca. White Silk Reticule. Gathered into square top with filigree edge, piped with green satin. Embroidered with green velvet ivy sprays applied with gold couching. Lined with white silk. Handmade. bowesmuseum.org.uk http://books2read.com/suziloveReticules
1800 ca. White Silk Reticule. Gathered into square top with filigree edge, piped with green satin. Embroidered with green velvet ivy sprays applied with gold couching. Lined with white silk. Handmade. bowesmuseum.org.uk

The term ‘ridicule’ derived from the Latin ‘ridiculum’ and first used in France during the 17th century and meant subjecting something or someone to mockery. As women’s tiny bags were mocked, or ridiculed, for being a useless fashion accessory carried outside when they were first used in the late 1700s, it’s likely this is how the name ‘ridicule’ started. The later term ‘reticule’ derived from the Latin reticulum, meaning ‘netted bag’ and was applied when bags became larger and often made from netting. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, they were also known as indispensables as they carried all the personal items a lady needed upon her person every day. They were easily made by ladies, easy to carry and became an indispensable fashion accessory.

In the early nineteenth century, reticules started to look like future handbags as they were often made from rigid card or molded mâché or card into a variety of shapes. Early bags were circular and with a drawstring but as women wanted their reticules to look individual they could be made with two halves and a hinged metal closure or with concertina sides. Materials varied from silk, cotton and string and shapes were round, hexagonal or lozenge shapes with shell shaped bags becoming very popular during the Regency and Romantic Eras.

1800s magazines were written for well bred women who could read, so they gave plenty of ideas for how ladies could make and embellish reticules for their own use and as pretty gifts. Needlework was highly encouraged as a pastime for a lady so bags were frequently embroidered or decorated with beading. By the 1820s, reticules became more like our modern handbags using soft leather gathered at the top or hard leather with a rigid fastener and metal chain for carrying.

19th Century Early Silk Reticule, Or Bag, With Embroidered Flowers As Carried In Jane Austen Or Bridgerton Times. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #Reticule http://books2read.com/suziloveReticules Share on X
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