I tend to collect links to images I would like to someday use for Fashion Doll Friday’s Flora. Rather then keeping lists of them on my computer, I thought I would start posting them on the blog. That way other people can see them and I can stop having to deal with strange lists of links with cryptic notes next to them.
All of the ones I’ve found lately seem to involve spencers. I have a soft spot for the small fitted jackets made popular, if you believe the story, by the 2nd Earl of Spencer who either cut off the tails on his jackets because they were damaged in a fire or because they kept getting caught on brambles while hunting. One way or another, it wasn’t long before the jackets became women’s wear and the rest, as they say is history. Spencer’s stuck around really until the 1830′s before finally fading out, though you’ll see the term used in some later materials for short jackets.
From the Victoria and Albert Museum this wonderful Spencer jacket matches exactly the dress it goes over. It dates from 1823. According to the museum, the once removed the jacket reveals and evening dress, so the jacket was probably meant to make the dress proper for day wear. I wish the dress without the jacket was available to see on their website, but I didn’t see it. Basically, this is an early version of the practice of making two bodices for the same skirt, so that it could be worn on several occasions.
I can take or leave the pompoms, but the back of the jacket is worth a long hard look. It’s a great way to see the unique seaming that was common of jackets of this era. The shoulder sleeves are shifted back on the shoulders and the side seams are shifted in. Fascinating. You won’t find modern jackets made this way- at least none I’ve ever seen. The dropped shoulder seams are typical of the early half of the 19th century.
This one is also from the Victoria and Albert Museum and dates from about 1814. It’s such a rich blue color. I love the puffed sleeves and the fitted cuff. The dress being worn isn’t too shabby either, though I could find little information on it. It looks like a wood-block print pattern to me, but I am hardly an expert on the topic. I enjoy seeing dresses from the Regency period that aren’t white.
For Some More Regency Fashion (about things other than the spencer, I promise.)
- Jane Austen’s World– A blog about all things Austen era related, including fashion.
- Jessamyn’s Regency Costume Companion– Mostly devoted to recreating empire and regency costume, but has some great reference photos.
- Meg Andrews- Antique Costumes and Textiles– A sales site with beautiful reference photos and lots of them.
- Tidesn Toj (Fashions of other Eras) Museum– A great costume museum with text in… I think Swedish, but there are plenty of pretty pictures, so who cares?
- Vintage Textile– Another sale sit with beautiful reference photos.
- Candice Hern- Romance Novelist– Lots of interesting articles about Regency costume/culture/history.
