One of the best things about writing historical romance is that I get to do research about the clothing of the period. By the strictest definition, the Regency period coincided with the tenure of the Prince of Wales as Regent while his father (George III) was deemed unfit to rule. But in terms of cultural and social definitions, most of us recognize the Regency as spanning the years between the 1790’s all the way up to 1830. Fashions changed pretty drastically during that time and there’s lots of research fun to be had when setting a book during the Regency.
I stumbled across a very entertaining website that allows you to dress up your Regency hero and heroine like paper dolls. There’s everything from undergarments to accessories, including a gentleman’s pistol and a lovely bouquet of flowers to give to his latest flirt.
Two other great stops on the web to learn about clothing of the Regency period are Candice Hern’s lovely and hugely informative website and Loretta Chase’s Two Nerdy History Girls blog, which she writes with historical fiction author, Susan Holloway Scott. If you love the Regency period as much as I do, I guarantee you’ll really enjoy following both Candice and Loretta.
So, what’s your favorite historical period for clothing? Is it the Regency period with it’s beautiful, flowing dresses, the Tudor and Elizabethan eras with dresses that were more like works of art, or do you love the changing fashions of the Victorian Age? One commenter will win a copy of my novella in the upcoming anthology, An Invitation To Sin.
Wonderful information…and I LOVE your work!
Thanks, Anna!
Mhm. This looks absolutely amazing! I often quite loved the Regency period. Whether it was the Elizabethan Age. Victorian. Did it matter? They all had a period of beautiful gowns…GOWNS fascinate me. Even the men’s clothing. It was truly beautiful. Words could not describe. Often times I view tuxedos and wedding gown, old fashioned wedding gowns…almost like Gowns that young woman would wear as a daily normal life thing.
I often envy them for their beautiful clothing. Their art. Everything because even though in the past things may have been different. That goes without saying…Life must have been difficult back then but if one were to look into it in a perspective view…they’d find that young ladies dressed beautifully. Young man…wore themselves on their sleeves. Its not like today…too much body show and whatnot. This is an inspiration for me. One of the many reasons I love to read Historical Romances.
And the clothing was all hand-made, which makes it even more spectacular. The Two Nerdy History Girls often visit the shops at Williamsburg, VA, where the clothing is all made as it was in the Georgian period. The detail work is exquisite. Stop by their blog to get some examples of that.
Of course, the working class and regular folk had pretty basic stuff sewn from much coarser materials.
I loved the flowing beautiful gowns of the regency era but I get a kick out the georgian era. I hope that was the right era anyway! LOL! With the tall and outlandish wigs and dresses. The men in highheels and dressing almost as beautiful as the women. Thanks for sharing today and I’m also a fan of Two Nerdy History Girls. I have a fun time checking out their blog.
Johanna, those sexy men of the Georgian era really rocked the lace and high heels!
I adore Regency fashion. I can stare for hours at the dresses and hairstyles of the time. In fact, it was Regency fashion that started my affair with the era. Well, that and Jane Austen, of course :-))
Farida, it’s obviously my favorite fashion era, too. I loved the flowing simplicity of the gowns in the early Regency. They got more extravagant and frilly later on.
love the pictures lots of great information I love the Elizabethan clothes they are my favorite
Works of art, weren’t they? All that stiff lace and the rich fabrics and jewels.
I can’t help it; every time I see those outfit, I think of how uncomfortable they must be. No lycra? No spandex? Everything stiff a la whalebone? *shudders* Plus, I doubt they launder clothes that often since they thought bathing too often was bad for their health.
Thank God for Beau Brummell, who insisted that a proper gentleman should bathe frequently!
I love the Regency era…I would like to read a time travel novel where a modern woman goes to this time period (but with her purse!)
I think Gwen Cready writes Regency time travel, if I’m not mistaken.
Thanks for the fun links! Regencies are my favorite to read but I think I like the Edwardian era for clothes. I have photos of my great grandma and her relatives from that era that I just drool over. The tucks and ruching, fur collars on coats, silly hats. Such fun!
Edwardian clothes are beautiful. Have you been watching Downton Abbey? Gorgeous outfits!
I love all things Regency. I adore the whole era clothes and all.
Me, too, Vera!
Tudor and Elizabethan eras. I think one of the biggest reasons is because my family line goes back to the House of Tudor and the House of Stewart. Most of the historicals that I read are from that era. I love the way that Bertrice Small details everything in her books of that time. Its awesome!
Linda, how cool that you can trace your family line back that far!
Thanks, I love it. On mom’s side we go back to Percilla Mullens and John Alden on the Mayflower, then on back to the House of Tudor. On Dad’s side it goes back to Eric The Red. What a mix. And to think that the Vikings and the English warred against each other. LOL. Still do in my family.
I love the Regency period of dressing. The dresses and men in tight pants. Can’t get no better.
We do love the men in tight pants!
I pop on to Candice Hern & Two Nerdy History Girls every now and again, they really have some fun and interesting information.
I like all of them! LOL! I can’t really make up my mind on which style I like best. So far any of the styles for women and men are ok for me, it also depends on what book I’m reading at the time. Then I fall in love with that period piece dress!
Regency, Tudor, Victorian, Elizabethan….all good for me! 🙂
It is hard to choose, and there are variations within the periods, too. In the Victorian era, there were such drastic changes from the early to the late period.
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