Comments on: A Regency Morning Dress of 200 Years Ago: April, 1812

By: A Regency Ball Gown 200 Years Ago: April, 1812 « Jane Austen's World

A Regency Ball Gown 200 Years Ago: April, 1812 « Jane Austen's World — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 21:14:52 +0000

[...] I commented on a morning gown whose influences were largely from British history. In this April 1812 Ackermann fashion plate, the pink ball gown is indicative of the impact of [...]

By: bluffkinghal

bluffkinghal — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 06:48:59 +0000

I find it funny these women dressed so well when they were at home doing nothing. But I suppose that just meant they had better discipline in their lives.

By: Pam

Pam — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 22:43:59 +0000

I have just returned from a week in England and it rarely got above a very damp 45 degrees! In common with this Regency lady, I wore gloves inside too.

By: GeraniumCat (@GeraniumCat)

GeraniumCat (@GeraniumCat) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:09:28 +0000

Fascinating post and some interesting comments, which prompts me to add my own thoughts from cold, damp England. Wouldn’t mittens – that is, fine fingerless gloves of kid or silk or possibly even openwork – have been worn at that time? Not terribly warm but better than nothing and you can still do quite a lot while wearing them (I frequently resort to typing in them in winter). I haven’t time to start burrowing in my costume books to look this up properly. Obviously, like gloves, they wouldn’t be shown in paintings, except perhaps those with an informal setting.

I can vouch for the warmth of all those layers – as a historical dancer I used to spend long periods hanging around outside in costume. A good shawl was usually enough to keep warm. The inability to shed layers while dancing on a hot day was a much greater problem!

By: Eileen Landau

Eileen Landau — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:27:59 +0000

England can be cold and damp! And as they heated only individual rooms by means of fireplaces, I can see where wearing gloves inside would help warm cold hands.

By: suzan

suzan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 02:52:14 +0000

I enjoyed the article tremendously. She must have the tiniest feet, you can hardly see them. I love the femininity.

By: kfield2

kfield2 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 01:30:51 +0000

Terrific article. I liked hearing why she was wearing each article and why gloves would be on or off. Thanks for this!

By: ellaquinnauthor

ellaquinnauthor — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:30:42 +0000

Delightful. The gloves fit so well, it’s hard to see them.

By: Vic

Vic — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:23:30 +0000

Your point is well taken. I lived in New Zealand for 6 weeks during the winter. At night and in the early morning, indoor temperatures were the same inside our rented apartment as outside. It is remarkable how quickly the human body becomes accustomed to constant cold.

I would imagine that the lady wearing this morning gown was accustomed to cooler indoor temperatures, and that she was layered in a chemise under-dress, several petticoats, and a short corset. Hose would have completed her ensemble (but not underdrawers, which would be added to a lady’s wardrobe somewhat later.) These layers might have kept in some warmth.

Still, an English “spring” day is much like a late February day in Virginia – Brrrr – and flimsy cotton and linen presented little protection from the cold.

By: Amina

Amina — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:45:55 +0000

It is amazing me to how, in a relatively short period of time, that is, the 20th century, people showed more skin and leg and hand even! I sometimes wonder if, with modern fabrics like modal and viscose that make wardrobe management easier, people won’t return to longer skirts and dresses and even gloves!

By: Amina

Amina — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:39:49 +0000

Very interesting. Thank you!

By: roseymcg

roseymcg — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:25:44 +0000

We today must bear in mind differences in our thought processes from those of any historic significance, which your article, I think, illustrates perfectly.
I once encountered somebody who couldn’t bear the repetitiveness of Handel’s music, claiming it bored him. Until I put 2 and 2 together, I could not provide him a right answer. Ultimately, it was simple: there was no recorded music in Handel’s day. Repetition in music allowed a listening audience’s enjoyment to be fulfilled.
And today’s central heating may make us complacent in our thinking about what was comforting in one’s own home to be worn. Surely gloves and a capuchin would keep a lady clad in lightweight cambric from shivering whilst retaining her poise and fashionable looks.
Brilliant article. Thank You.
Rose