I like false rumps and I cannot lie
Entry Three: Living in My Jane Austen Protagonist Era
Unfortunately, not everyone can be a fabled Jane Austen heroine, but I can definitely look like one. For years I have longed to wear a long regency dress and appear with mud on my petticoat from a long improper walk in the woods, and now I can. I made a 1790s round gown heavily based upon ones in the 2005 version of “Pride and Prejudice.” In my previous blog, “I Like False Rumps and I Cannot Lie,” I went into depth about the construction process of undergarments in the Regency era — therefore this entry will be about making the gown.
The Research Phase
Picking up from where I left off, I began with hitting the books. As the 18th century came to a close, a new fashionable silhouette began to take form: an empire waist (Bridgerton style) with the bust separated and lifted. Through the 1790s, the latest fashions reflected the ancient Greek neoclassical style with sheer white toga-style dresses. With that in mind, I chose a cotton voile for my fabric, which is almost cloudlike in its delicacy and transparency. Then, utilizing patterns 25 and 26 from “Janet Arnold’s Patterns of Fashion 1” and “The American Duchess Guide to 18th Century Dressmaking” 1790’s Round Gown Pattern, I began the process.
The Pattern
The first pattern I started with was for the linen lining of the base bodice. The bodice provides structure and support for the light flowy nature of the dress. As most base bodices of the regency period are similar, I used a pattern from an extant morning gown and then adjusted it to my measurements. For the rest of the gown, I used a bit of math and a mirror.
Assembly
Now, I have a better idea of sewing and patternmaking in comparison to my first Robe A La Francaise. The construction of the garment was relatively simple, consisting of backstitches, whip stitches, gathers, and some casings. While I mainly sewed by machine, there were times when I needed to sew by hand.
Conclusion
I absolutely adore this dress. It is extremely comfortable to wear, and the lightweight fabric is suitable for hot Florida weather. It was so fulfilling to watch my improvement and skills I acquired through my sewing journey, and I feel that this dress is the accumulation of the past two years of learning. I am also looking forward to wearing this to school for my AP Chemistry final project which will be on the science behind regency and 18th century cosmetics. For my next project, I am heading back to the mid-18th century with either a Chemise a La Reine or a Robe à l’anglaise.
In the meantime I will be frolicking along the beach pretending to turn down proposals from suitors and pine for my own Mr. Darcy.