RomanceEverAfter

Romantic Tales - Regency

What Should I Wear?

In the Regency novel, the ladies in high society endeavor to be a "diamond of the first water."  The periodic visit to a modiste in London to select bolts of fabric to be used in the design of the most fashionable dresses are a primary concern for the lady of the ton.  Whether attending a ball or taking a carriage ride in Hyde Park at five o'clock, a lady must be a paragon of feminine beauty.

The realities of what a lady endured for fashion during the Regency period is commendable.  Lightweight fabrics such as silk and muslin were used for women's dresses.  In the wintertime, the fashionable lady faced the cold with little but her fortitude to keep her warm.  If it were not for the Spencer and Pelisse, Regency women would never have endured the cold weather of England.

The Spencer
The Spencer was a tightly fitting waist length jacket that could be buttoned snuggly over the bosom.  Typically, the color of the Spencer differed from the dress.  A Spencer had a standing collar and could be fur lined in the winter for added warmth.

The Pelisse
The Pelisse was designed as a coat dress.  The fabric fitted closely to the body, but not as form fitting as the Spencer.  Depending on the time of year, a Pelisse would be made from silk, satin, light velvet or muslin.  When the cold season arrived, the Pelisse was preferred over the Spencer.   A lady's Pelisse was typically lined or edged with fur for additional warmth.

Fashion was always at the whim of constant change.  The truth be known, it undoubtedly was a challenge for ladies to keep up with fashion.  What was considered fashionable altered as quickly as the weather.  No matter, to be at the first stare of fashion, the Regency woman did her best to keep one step ahead of her fashionable friends.