· Everyday Regency ·

· Edit 6/2016- due to closet shortage, I have to pass along some of my clothes!  This dress is currently for sale in my Etsy shop ·

I hope you are all staying warm this week!  It's been a mighty chilly and windy week here, but we finally got a snowfall yesterday to make it all worthwhile. :-)  Winter is my favorite season, but it really does need a good snow to truly qualify. ;-)

These pictures, however, were taken on an unseasonably warm November day and they seemed like they would be a fun break from a continuation of my slew of 1930s posts! (my current re-reading of Pride and Prejudice might also have had a slight bearing upon the choice... ;-))  I had a hard time choosing which pictures to include, but as you can see.... I ended up keeping most of them after all. ;-)  What can I say?  The lighting was just so pretty and the setting so very "English countryside"-ish!

I made this Regency dress back in, oh I don't know, 2008? 2007?  Time flies.  At any rate, it was at the height of one of my "Regency Phases".  Regency gowns have such an innocent appeal to them that I keep being drawn back into the allure of them.  It is an easy matter to find oneself in a "Regency Phase". ;-)

This dress was heavily influenced by the c. 1798-1805 gown from the Salisbury Museum, depicted in Janet Arnold's "Patterns of Fashion 1".  At the time, I was overwhelmed and confused by the thought of using the gridded pattern in the book, so I purchased an extremely similar pattern from Period Impressions.  Looking back, I most certainly had the skills to use the Janet Arnold pattern, but oh well!  Live and learn. :-)  The Period Impressions pattern was fairly easy to use, and produced a suitably charming garment. ;-)

The hand-stitched, chevroning pin tucks add interest to the bodice back.  The bib-front ties are secured at the high waistline by thread loops.

This was my very first dress to utilize hand-stitching on the actual dress construction.  I have always been committed to hand-sewn hems and trims, but the tiny bodice seams of a regency dress convinced me to give it a try. :-)  I used the lapped seaming indicated in "PoF"- or at least as much as I understood then... ;-)  Now that I've done a lot more with period construction, it all makes SO much more sense!!  I really only did the bodice construction by hand; at that stage, sewing armscyes, sleeve seams, or *horrors!* those achingly long skirt seams, was beyond my contemplation or interest. ;-)

The sleeves are long, fitted, and flare out over my hands.  The reticule is a ribbon-embroidered, tasseled one I made a bit after the dress.  It is darling, and almost impracticably small. ;-)

The skirt is gathered in the center back, smooth in the front, and has a couple deep pleats on the sides to add hip room without shaped seams.

This hat/bonnet was my first Regency headwear, and after a brief period of distaste, I think I've come to love it again!  It is in dire need of trimmings, though!  True fanatics of the 1995 Pride & Prejudice will recognize this hat as being inspired by Georgiana's. ;-)

I cut off the crown of a felt hat from Wal-Mart, and added a gathered rectangle of silk.  I ran a cord through a casing in the other edge, and pulled it up tight.  A strip of silk finishes off the seam where the silk attaches to the brim.

This was my first bib-front gown, and I was struck by the similarities to the "round gowns" of the previous century!  One of the things I find most fascinating about studying fashion is observing the gradual evolution and adaptation of construction.

The dress was made from a cotton print that, while not terribly period, was a favorite. :-)  The dress is plain enough to leave lots of room for variations in accessorizing!  I have had fun mixing and matching the dress to freshen it up over the years. :-)

The dress isn't a "regal" regency style, but seems more "homey".  I love how it makes me feel like an "everyday" Elizabeth Bennet or Anne Elliot. ;-)

The "bib" is cut on the bias and features groupings of hand-sewn pintucks.  The edges of the bib are finished off with fabric strips, and then fastened with straight pins.

Three hand-sewn tucks add interest to the skirt hem.

Thanks for visiting! :-)

· Lovely pictures courtesy of the inimitable Kathryn! ·