1806 Two Ladies In White Dresses, French. One with pink sleeves, pink trim, tan shawl, long gloves and straw bonnet. Other with long tan gloves, lemon paisley shawl, pink bonnet, Fichu or shoulder shawl. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien. These fashionable ensembles with a variety of fashionable and practical accessories would have been worn by Jane Austen and her family and friends during the day when out walking in the park or visiting village shops. Hats were a necessity to protect fair skin from the sun and scarfs and shawls added color and warmth to an outfit.
Definition Fichu: Draped scarf or shawl worn about shoulders and tied in knot at breast, with ends hanging down loosely. Word, meaning negligee or careless, first used to describe breaking away from stiff collar of the past.
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.
1805-1810 ca. White Silk Bonnet, American. Satin trimmed with green chenille, yellow cording braid, front bands over the back, a circle on the left side, white fabric flower spray at top front, white and green striped ribbon tie over front, and a plaited straw foundation. via Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, U.S.A. mfa.org
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.
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)
1826 Affectations at Cheltenham Spa, England. Regency Life Around England. From The English Spy By Robert Cruikshank. 1826 Regency Social Life. View of the Commercial Room at the Bell Inn, Cheltenham, England. From 1826 The English Spy By Robert Cruikshank. via Google Books (PD-180)1826 High Street, Cheltenham, England. Regency Life Around England. From 1826 The English Spy By Robert Cruikshank. via Google Books (PD-180)1826 Oakland Cottages were a well-known place to stay At Cheltenham Spa, England. Regency Life Around England. From: 1826 The English Spy By Robert Cruikshank. via Google Books (PD-180)1826 Cheltenham Spa in Jane Austen's England. From Regency Life Around England. #janeausten #RegencyEra #Cartoon #England https://books2read.com/suziloveYGD Share on XRL_2_D2D_RetailerBuyLink_RL_2
https://books2read.com/suziloveYGD
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.
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.
1810-1825 ca. Bridgerton and Jane Austen Times Red Twisted Reticule, Or Bag, European. Silk and metal with cord drawstring. via Metropolitan Museum, N.Y.C., U.S.A. metmuseum.org
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. http://books2read.com/suziloveReticules
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.
