Today I’m hosting my
friend and fellow author Ella Quinn. She’s going to be discussing the basics of
a Regency ear lady’s wardrobe. Take it away Ella!
~*~
I’m so thrilled to be
on your blog, Lauren.
While we were kicking
around ideas, Lauren thought I should post on what a well-bred Regency lady
would wear. Now, to go though the entire wardrobe would make for a very long
post, so this is by no means exhaustive.
There were day gowns,
usually of thin muslin and worn at home, walking gowns, carriage gowns, riding
dress, evening gowns and ball gowns, and this list is not exhaustive. The
typical Regency lady could change up to 6 times a day.
Here is a Regency Evening Gown:
What young unmarried
ladies wore differed in color and material from what older or married ladies
could wear.
But let’s let start
with the undergarments. The first thing a most women would don is a chemise,
also called a shift. Think of a modern petticoat, but made of muslin. It tied
in the front so it could be adjusted. Over that she’d wear stays. Some people
like to call them corsets, but to me corsets are the heavy ones used during the
Victorian era. Regency corsets varied and could tie in the front or back, and
be long or short.
Over the stays a lady
wore up to five petticoats to add fullness to the gown. The petticoats were
also of thin muslin. At some point, she’d don stockings made of cotton, silk or
wool. Cotton was usually worn during the day, unless it was cold, which is
where wool comes in. For evening she’d want silk. These are not the fine thing
silk were used to seeing today, but a fairly heavy silk that was quite opaque.
Here is an example of Regency Stays:
Over all that, she’d
wear her gown. For everyday it might be muslin, cotton, or twill, and fine
cashmere and velvet for cooler weather. For evening young lady, just out, would
most likely wear muslin in pastels. Strong colors weren’t considered proper for
a young lady. An older or married lady would wear any of the wide verity of
silks, or in colder weather velvets.
Here is an example of a Regency day gown:
To accessorize, there
were huge shawls, kid gloves, reticules, in the winter large muffs, and, of
course, bonnets. A lady did not leave the house without wearing gloves, and her
bonnet. Skirt pockets went out of fashion because of the line of the Regency
gown, and reticules were used as a purse.
I’ll finish with shoes.
Generally ladies wore half-boots to go walking in. They were made of heavy
cloth, such as jean, or leather. For evening they wore slippers.
Here's a pair of Jean-half boots, leather half-boots and slippers:
One thing to remember is
that though there were second hand stores, ladies in the ton would have all
their clothes made. Shoes were also custom made. Fabric was very expensive, so
clothes were re-cut and styled. New trimmings added. Sometimes gowns were died.
~*~
Thank you so much for stopping by League of Rogues and making such a great fashion presentation Ella!
Meet Author Ella Quinn
Robert, Viscount Beaumont remembers all too well what it feels like to
be in love. That is why he must keep his distance from Serena. He’s only felt
his pulse stir the way it does now when he made the mistake of loving the wrong
woman once before. Yet the more he strives to resist his feelings, the nearer
he is to falling under Serena’s seductive spell…
Meet Author Ella Quinn
Ella’s studies
and other jobs have always been on the serious side. Reading historical romances,
especially Regencies, were her escape.
After stint in the Army, where she was the
first woman to be assigned to a Green Beret unit, and serving in Guam and
Germany, she decided to return to university where she earned a B.A. from North
Carolina State University and M.S. in International Relation and a J.D. from
Campbell University, NC. which led to another term in the Army as a JAG
officer.
When they were dating, Ella’s husband convinced
her he was really a Viking warrior, that was thirty years ago. They have a son
and granddaughter, Great Dane and a Chartreux. After living in the South
Pacific, Central America, North Africa and in Europe, she and her husband
decided to make St. Thomas, VI home.
Ella is a member of the Romance Writers of
American, The Beau Monde and Hearts Across History. She’s extensively
researched the Regency era, immersing her stories with the flavor and feel of
the era so that readers lose themselves in the time period. She also
belongs to the Historical Romance Critique Group.
In addition to
writing and reading, Ella likes water sports, traveling and discovering new
foods.
Want to have a taste of Ella's Sexy Traditional Regencies? Check out The Temptation of Lady Serena below!
Official Blurb:
Ella Quinn’s bachelors in The Marriage
Game series are charming and cunning when it comes to the ways of love—until
the right woman captures their unsuspecting hearts…
Custom-made gowns…nights
at the theater…and a host of eligible bachelors. Accustomed to living a quiet
life in the Scottish Borderlands, Lady Serena Weir has never had any of these
luxuries. But when Serena’s brother demands she finally have a Season in
London, she’s thrust into a glamorous world she’s only dreamed of…
Excerpt:
Serena entered
Madame Lisette’s shop on Bruton Street with Phoebe and their two aunts.
Madame, a small
lady, her dark hair streaked with silver, greeted them “Ah, the new mademoiselle. Bien.”
“My dear Lisette,” Aunt
Ester said. “Lady Serena Weir, my niece, desperately needs your help. She
requires everything!”
“Bon.” Madame walked around Serena. “I have
made some designs that are comme il faut.
Just the thing.”
Aunt Ester tapped
her chin. “She’ll need several walking, carriage, day, evening, and two or
three ball gowns within the week. That should be enough to start.”
Serena’s eyes
rounded at the list her aunt rattled off. She’d never even heard of some of
them. How could she hope to wear as many as her aunt was ordering? She’d have
to change several times a day to make use of them all.
Madame measured her.
“I have a few things ready from the information sent me, my lady.” Madame
clapped her hands and what seemed like a parade of garments was carried out for
their inspection. “They are très élégante for Lady
Serena.” Madame called to an assistant then left them.
Looking at the
number of gowns the modiste expected Serena to have fitted, she whispered,
“Phoebe. Is shopping always like this?”
“Only at first.
Madame will soon learn your taste and then it’s not so chaotic. Give it some
time. Once we have some carriage and walking gowns, we’ll look for hats, and
shoes. Oh, and we can’t forget fans, reticules, gloves, and muffs.”
Serena plopped into
a chair. “I’m exhausted just thinking about it. This is as busy as harvest
time. How do you keep up?”
