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Saturday, February 1, 2014

· 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! ·

27 comments:

  1. YESSSSSSS I love this shoot!!! It makes me so happy!! :-)

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    1. Me too. :-) You take SUCH pretty pictures. :-)

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    2. Will it be considered arrogant if I don't come back with some humble response denying that I possess any talent whatsoever? ;-) But you really DO make up for 80% of the prettiness at least....

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  2. Gorgeous! The pictures are beautiful and the lighting is AMAZING.

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  3. Beautiful! It's exciting to hear that the dress was actually hand-stitched and that you made the hat yourself! Lovely hat!

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  4. Oh, this dress is SO gorgeous! The pin tucks are positively lovely, and your hat is too cute too!

    Brigid
    the Middle Sister and Singer

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  5. So pretty, Lily. Just so so so so so pretty!!! The pin tuck details are so fantastic. Love!

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  6. Lovely photos, lovely dress and a lovely place! :) I really love the details on the back of the bodice! It's indeed a "homey" style that Lizzie B. might have worn during her walks. Ooh I think I'm getting into "Regency Phase" and I blame you for that! ;)

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    1. I look forward to seeing what you create! :-) An upcoming ball is prompting another "Regency Phase" for me, so hopefully I'll have several new things to share this month!

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    2. Same here, a Regency ball is on the way and I feel as if I had nothing to wear! ;) Waiting for more of your Regency creations! :)

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  7. I love how you emulate the time period you're dressing for! How do you do it?! :) You certainly look as though you could have stepped off of a movie set and indeed your setting looks very English like.

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    1. Awww, thanks Cheri! :-) We are surrounded by flat cornfields, so finding this little bit of England just a 2 minute walk away was such a delightful surprise!!

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  8. A very pretty dress (and pictures!)...and the bonnet is just darling! It looks very much like clothing a woman in the Regency would have worn, not "just" a costume. :)

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  9. Winter is my favorite season too! It's snowing heavily even now as I type & it makes me sooo happy! :D

    Love the hat - what a beautiful shade of green. How very clever to re-do a store bought one!

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  10. Beautiful! Love all the tuck details! :)

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  11. Thank you all so much for your sweet compliments! :-) This is one of my favorite posts. :-)

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  12. Sigh! Those tucks! So lovely. Splendid job as always, and beautifully photographed. You have a knack for getting all those period touches to look just right. :)

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  13. So wonderful to see these beautiful photos in winter. It makes our Australian summer a little more bearable. Your dress is amazing, fabulous work.

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  14. Looking at these pictures of you in your dress has just made my heart happy. If I let my imagination get carried away, I could totally believe you were from one of Jane's books and one of the many movies made from them! You look more than splendid! I am in love with your hat and those chevron tucks on the back of your bodice! The colors you chose are so beyone perfect!! Sigh....such loveliness!!!

    Blessings!
    Gina

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  15. Very beautiful!!! You look lovely!!!!

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  16. Lily and Kathryn, you two really do make some prodigiously pretty art together. :-) I especially love how the photography captures not only the overall period "flavor," but each and every minute detail that contributes to it. The gown tuck embellishments are perfectly placed, and I'm especially loving the choice of the Austen-inspired necklace!

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  17. Kathryn, these photos are BEAUTIFUL! It helps that you had a gorgeous subject. ;) Lily, you look like you popped right out of the early 1800s! The little details on your dress make it absolutely perfect, and you wear it well (I love your hair, especially!)

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  18. I can confirm that your setting does indeed look English 'countryside-ish'!
    I live in the next village in Hampshire from Jane Austen's house and fields outside the village look very similar. I love doing pictures by the wheat fields. In a reverse scenario, I did some 1930s 'American Mid West' ones last summer. :)

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    1. Oh good! I'm glad my setting gets approval from an expert! :-) And how very amusing that our settings were reversed!

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  19. Once again, thank you all so much! :-)

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  20. Yes I recognised the bonnet from Georgiana immediately. You are AMAZING and I envy you!!!! Wow this dress is truly beautiful, Lily!

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    1. Thanks, Naomi! And thank you for commenting- I love hearing from my readers. :-)

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