If there was ever a season made for a little Regency romanticism, it’s autumn. Think misty countryside walks, sweeping coats, ribbons, riding boots and the kind of billowing white blouse that makes you want to abandon your inbox and dramatically cross a field instead. And, rather conveniently, Jane Austen-inspired dressing is having a major cultural revival.
Dolly Alderton recently launched Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Pride and Prejudice at the Jane Austen Festival in Bath, where bonnets, empire-line dresses and full Regency regalia were very much the dress code. Add a new Sense and Sensibility adaptation into the mix and suddenly the costumes of Austen’s heroines are feeling particularly relevant again.
The Regency period, which spanned the early 19th century, was defined by a move away from the heavily structured silhouettes of the Georgian era towards softer, higher-waisted dresses inspired by classical antiquity. Empire lines, fine muslins, delicate embroidery and long, fluid skirts became fashionable, while outerwear, gloves, ribbons and bonnets added practical polish.
For stylist Bertie Taylor-Smith, part of the appeal lies in the contrasts that defined Regency dress. “What inspires me most is the contrast between masculinity and femininity during the period and how they intertwined,” he says. “On one end there was a strong influence from military uniforms, so think rows of buttons and fitted tailoring. On the other, you have dainty embroidery, little frills and ruffles – and both genders borrowed from each other.”
It’s perhaps why Regency references feel surprisingly easy to translate into a modern wardrobe. The period may be best known for its empire-line gowns, but there’s a much broader visual language to borrow from: romantic blouses, fitted jackets, delicate embroidery, soft colour palettes, capes, ribbons and elegant flats. “There is definitely fun to be had in embracing the soft colour palettes and romantic layering,” Taylor-Smith adds. “And I’d never shy away from an opportunity to put someone in a neck ruffle.”
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