Regency Era Fashion Trends That Persisted
Humans have always needed ways to carry their bits and pieces. What's thought to be the world's oldest purse was discovered in Germany in 2012, dated between 2,500 and 2,200 B.C. - and was decorated with dog teeth!
A type of drawstring bag called a reticule was new to 1790 - before this, external 'pockets' were crafted and worn about the waist (sometimes you can see them peeping out of aprons in old illustrations). But with the arrival of the empire silhouette, streamlined skirts made pockets and pouches impossible to hide, so reticules became a popular solution. Women carried reticules made of velvet, silk or satin with their evening dresses, and even made their own with embroidery or beading.
And they never went out of style - from clasp purses to clutch bags, carrying around your keys, receipts and biscuit crumbs continues to be à la mode.
This article was published in June 2023
How To Dress Like A Jane Austen Character
Jane Austen died 200 years ago but the author's modern day fans have an insatiable appetite for 'all things Austen' including Regency clothes and style.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that to become a Jane Austen super fan or Janeite, you need to dress in the correct fashions from the period.
But how do you go about turning yourself into a Jane Austen character?
Get into period style
One of the best ways of getting started is to study fashion to get a sense of what was 'in' and 'out' during the Regency years.
Knowing the difference between breeches, pantaloons and trousers is crucial if you're on a mission to perfect your Mr Darcy look.
Similarly, women who aspire to look like Elizabeth Bennet must have the right dress for any occasion.
You'll also need to develop an eye for subtle changes in Regency fashions down the years.
For example, breeches were popular during the 18th Century but by the 1820s, (after Austen's death) they were thought to be too old-fashioned for day wear by the wealthy.
To avoid a fashion faux-pas, There are many Regency costume websites which provide details on everything from dresses, trousers and underwear to bonnets, hats and head dresses.
Another good starting point is the Regency History fan blog which has curated lists of Jane Austen fashion links.
Attention to detail
The devil is in the detail if you're transforming yourself into a Jane Austen character.
Wealthy women often had a range of clothes from morning and evening gowns to promenade dresses.
Women's Regency clothing is renowned for its classic simplicity with more natural styles which were light in colour and weight.
Avoid heavy, rich brocades in favour of simple, white cotton muslin and understated ornamentation. Simplicity and understatement were viewed as tasteful and elegant during the Regency period.
Why not start your own collection of accessories such as bonnets, shawls, fans and jewellery.
Don't forget to study the different hair styles and cosmetics of the period too.
Be inspired by a Regency dandy
Men's costumes are every bit as complicated as Regency women's with subtle uses of expensive cloth, buttons and fabric patterns.
Why not look for a modern day role model to inspire your Jane Austen look?
Regency dandy, Zack Pinsent from Hove is an inspirational Austen super fan.
This self-taught period tailor enjoys wearing Regency clothes and even goes supermarket shopping in full Jane Austen regalia.
Zack does not own a pair of jeans, preferring to fashion his clothes on Regency styles. For him, tailoring and authenticity is essential to obtaining the Regency look for men's clothing.
Video: 'Street fashion' inspired by Jane Austen
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"My clientele come to me because I will do it accurately," says Zack.
"If you're going to spend money on making an outfit, why not do it properly?
"I make period clothing. I'm using 200 years old tailoring systems to draft patterns and then using historical cloth and construction methods as well."
Zack advises his clients to adopt their own Regency style icon and not select the most obvious Jane Austen characters like Mr Darcy.
Video Tips: The Art of Regency Fashion
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DIY Regency style
If you're planning on making your own costume, start with the essentials and then add the accessories later.
For women, the Regency look requires a long dress with a high, empire waist, white gloves and a bonnet or hat.
If you're a man, you should aim at creating a tailored silhouette with breeches or pantaloons, tailcoat, shirt, cravat and high waisted waistcoat.
The Jane Austen Festival website has a useful checklist and advice on how to create Regeny clothes.
The next stage is to buy a pattern and then find the right material at a fabrics shop.
There are instructions for many different costume pieces at the Jane Austen Centre's website – you can even create your own Regency inspired hat pin or stylish turban.
Sense & Sensibility Patterns and Simplicity also have Regency costume designs which are easy to follow.
If you're not adept with a sewing machine and you can't afford a tailor, you could hire your Jane Austen outfit from a specialist company like Bath Theatrical Costume Hire or Complete Costumes.
Alternatively, why not buy a ready-made costume, although this is probably the most expensive way of looking like Jane Austen.
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How to make Jane Austen clothes.
Take a trip back in time
Why not seek stylistic inspiration from an iconic Regency building or visit a house associated with Jane Austen and her novels?
The Royal Pavilion in Brighton is a great place to immerse yourself in Regency architecture and style.
Immerse yourself in Regency style
The Royal Pavilion in Brighton
Jane Austen's House Museum in Hampshire illustrates the author's personal style. Its collection includes her jewellery and shawl as well as typical dresses from the period.
Museums are useful for shedding light on Regency style. It's worth dropping into Bath's Fashion Museum, Worthing Museum or Platt Hall Gallery in Manchester.
The Victoria and Albert Museum has Regency clothing in its collection but don't miss its fashion plates which inspired the costumes in the film, Sense and Sensibility.
The Jane Austen Centre in Bath offers a snapshot of what it would be like to live in the Regency times. Visitors can dress up in the exhibition's Regency costumes including bonnets, top hats, shawls, fans and dresses.
Studying Regency portraits in art galleries helps to provide an idea of what people were wearing during Jane Austen's own lifetime.
Look and learn - Austen on film
Film and TV adaptations of Jane Austen's novels are a good source for costume inspiration.
Why not model yourself on one of the Austen characters and their outfits?
The TV versions of 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Mansfield Park' and 'Persuasion' are renowned for their realistic costume detail.
To get a feel for Regency living and style, you could visit Lyme Park in Cheshire, Montacute House in Somerset or Basildon Park in Berkshire. All have been the settings for Jane Austen TV dramas and films.
Basildon Park took a central role in the 2005 production of Pride and Prejudice, starring Keira Knightley.
Claydon House in Buckinghamshire is a fine Georgian country house which provided the location for the ballroom scene in the 1996 film of Emma starring Gwyneth Paltrow.
There are also a number of Jane Austen film costume websites which have visual reference guides to Regency clothes.
Read Jane Austen's novels
You can learn a great deal from studying Jane Austen's descriptions of what characters are wearing in her books. She describes her characters' clothes in such detail that it's clear that she was knowledgeable about fashion.
Pride and Prejudice has some good descriptions of ball and wedding costumes.
But don't confine yourself to Austen's most famous novel. Why not read Mansfield Park, Emma, Persuasion or Sense and Sensibility for further fashion and style notes.
Jane Austen Fan Fiction or JAFF is popular with super fans. Thirty to sixty Austen inspired books are published every month on Amazon or other platforms.
The BBC's #LoveToRead project is full of tips on reading including Regency novels that may inspire your Jane Austen journey.
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Meet Sophie Andrews, a Jane Austen super fan and blogger.
Get inspired by social media
Join the Jane Austen community online and on social media platforms.
Social media is a great way of discovering how the minute detail of how fashions changed year to year during Jane Austen's lifetime.
Pinterest and Instagram are rich sources of inspiration for those looking to discover more about Regency fashion.
There are numerous Jane Austen fan blogs including several who specialise in Regency style and fashion... Or why not start your own blog?
Sophie Andrews is an active member of the Jane Austen online community and was encouraged by her new friends to begin her blog, Laughing With Lizzie, which now has thousands of followers.
Go to a Ball
If you're going to become a Janeite, you can attend events, festivals and Regency balls with fellow Jane Austen fans.
Visit the Jane Austen Ball photo gallery
Speaking to people with a passion for Austen and her characters is one of the best ways to learn about Regency fashion.
The annual Jane Austen Festival, held in Bath in September, is a popular hangout for super fans.
You can learn basic dance steps on the Regency Dances website or by joining a Regency dancing class with a specialist group such as the Duke of Wellington's Dancers
Once you've hooked up with Austen admirers, there are also picnics, presentations and promenades to attend.
Now that you're dressed to impress, you may decide to act like a Regency character, talk in a period style and adopt the manners and courtesies of the period.
Your transformation is complete!
Hats are an essential accessory for an Austen ball
Is The Stereotypical, Hyper-Girlie Barbiecore Aesthetic Still Relevant? Uae-Based Fashion Experts Decode The Trend
(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Published: Fri 28 Jul 2023, 2:59 PMLast updated: Fri 28 Jul 2023, 4:11 PM
Greta Gerwig's Barbie is talk of the town. The film will go down in bhistory for many reasons, including making $377 million on the opening weekend, making Gerwig the first female director to bring in such figures. While the film is yet to be released in the UAE, its ripple effect on fashion is visible. Barbie-inspired trends had been spotted ever since the film was announced at the end of 2019. Even then one thought the Barbiecore trend had come and gone. But when, at the end of last year, fashion search engine Lyst announced its Year in Fashion, Barbiecore ranked as the top trend of 2022, with its peak moment in June. With the film having won over audiences around the world, do not be surprised if Barbiecore returns as the top trend of 2023 as well. Already, the Instagram account
@databutmakeitfashion has called Barbiecore the biggest trend of the summer and noted that its popularity has gone up by 412 per cent in the last month alone. As renowned fashion influencer Masoom Minawala Mehta puts it,"It's a trend that will continue to trickle down to culture. We are yet to witness the climax, and I don't think it will die down too soon."
Masoom Minawala MehtaBarbiecore phenomenon
In the film, Margot Robbie has, expectedly, dressed like the doll. She is every inch the Barbie we all had imagined. After all, she has the body type and looks to bring alive all those stereotypical feminine attributes. However, this isn't the most inclusive take on fashion. Plus, is it not time we woke up to the fact we are just feeding the pockets of corporations behind the film?
It seems not. Sandra Hakim, founder of Dubai-based concept store, The Urbanist, says,"There is a certain innocence and femininity to characters, and this has appeal." It is actually a trend made for Dubai."The girls in the film are stylish and beautiful. Who doesn't aspire to be like that?" she adds. As proven by the stores in the city that are filled with fashion inspired by the pop culture icon, Barbiemania doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Barbie has been in our lives ever since the American toy manufacturing company Mattel first began to sell the 11.5 inch doll in 1959. Barbiecore, however, became a trend only in the late 1990s when the Danish-Norwegian dance group Aqua released its single Barbie Girl. The song captured popular imagination, even though many detractors pointed to how Barbie set impossible beauty standards for young women around the world. Case in point? These lines from the song: Dress me up, make it tight, I'm your dolly.
Fashion seeks inspiration
Over the years, designer labels like Moschino and Chanel have sought inspiration from Barbie. Chanel's recent Cruise 2023 show had obvious references to Malibu Barbie. Not surprising, given the show was held in Los Angeles and Margot Robbie happens to be one of the brand ambassadors. Today, Barbie has managed to gain fashion's vote of confidence with labels such as Vera Wang, Jean Paul Gaultier and Middle East's very own Elie Saab being among those who've dressed the doll.
Sandra HakimAt the debut edition of Dubai Fashion Week in October last year, Barbie teamed up with Lebanese couturier Jean-Louis Sabaji to launch a new collection of Barbie-inspired outfits. Curvy model Ameni Esseibi opened the show in a tiered, black-feathered skirt with a sequined bright pink top, thereby proving that with some imagination Barbie fashion can work on all body types. Hakim says what she has enjoyed is how people have taken the look and expressed themselves creatively. Billie Eilish gave the trend her own spin with an oversized pink shirt, pink leg warmers and chunky sneakers at the film's Los Angeles premiere, and a pregnant Kourtney Kardashian has proved the Barbie trend is baby bump-proof on her Instagram. Interestingly, this time, Barbie fashion has gone fluid and has impacted the way men dress too. With fashion no longer stacking what is meant for women and men in neat compartments, the timing of the film couldn't have been better. Be it Ranveer Singh or Harry Styles, a new brand of femininity is being embraced by many male celebrities in their dressing styles.
Layla KardanLately, we saw how the Netflix series Bridgerton inspired regency era fashion, or regencycore, and HBO's Succession paved the way for quiet luxury, which is also having its moment right now. Trends with the word"core" are usually social media trends born out of cultural phenomena that usually have a short shelf life.
Why it's resonating
In the post-Covid era of fashion, Barbiecore has become the ruling trend on TikTok, with over 350 million views. Be it Zendaya or Anne Hathaway, every celebrity has had her own take on Barbiecore. The icing on the cake, however, was when Valentino came out with a shade called Valentino PP, a vibrant hot pink that would certainly receive Barbie's approval.
While Barbie's style of dressing was imagined more than 60 years ago, it turned out to be tailormade for social media. Of course, there is more to Barbiecore than pink. It is an ultra glamorous and highly stylised look that is visually eye-catching. Barbiecore has almost become a"guilty pleasure". As Dubai-based singer and entrepreneur Layla Kardan, who is known for her unique sense of style, says,"I love the many shades of pink and all the sparkles. Though I am not big on dressing for trends or much of a pop colour girl, I secretly like seeing all the Barbiecore influencer posts."
Being a major post-pandemic film, the protagonist's dress codes fit into the dopamine dressing styles that have dominated fashion ever since we came out of lockdown."It hits nostalgia. A concept we are all familiar with and relate to," says Minawala Mehta."Barbiecore takes us back to our childhood to happier, more carefree times. It's dopamine dressing at its finest." Post-pandemic, fashion has also become very retrospective, hence Barbie's timing could not have been better.
However, trends cannot go on long enough. While Minawala Mehta finds pink, especially Valentino's Pink PP collection, very empowering, she says we have seen too much pink. Kardan, on the other hand, argues,"I think it will be at least another year of pink on pink." Others are hoping Succession-inspired quiet luxury trend may just give Barbiecore a run for its money." Hakim has the final word when she says,"Now it's pink, tomorrow it's another colour, the next season will bring another look." Come on, Barbie, let's end this party!
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