Books

Ackermann's Costume Plates - Women's Fashions in England, 1818-1828 - The following books are useful in part because they show where the fashions came from and where they were going. Stella Bloom takes the other option and concentrates on part of one era with her collection of fashion plates for Ackermann's Costume Plates - Women's Fashions in England, 1818-1828 (ISBN 0-486-23690-0) She includes a short introductory essay, 88 fashion plates (with 16 shown in both color and black-and-white,) and a glossary of fashion terms. Not only is this book a fine primary source, it's also published by Dover Books, which means it's highly affordable. (Added: 18-Sep-2002 Hits: 1 Rating: 4.50 Votes: 8) Rate It

Patterns of Fashion 1 - Janet Arnold's Patterns of Fashion 1 (ISBN 0-333-13606-3) covers the years 1660-1860, with 11 gowns, including a riding habit, falling between 1800-1825. This book contains patterns drawn to scale and taken from original garments of the period, so that an adventurous seamstress can recreate the dresses (in the exact size of the original, mind you - although she does include two pages of suggestions on enlarging and using the patterns for modern-sized women.) Ms. Arnold includes scale drawings of period pattern pieces and advertisements and excerpts from periodicals and books. (Added: 18-Sep-2002 Hits: 1 Rating: 5.25 Votes: 4) Rate It

Period Costume for Stage & Screen - Patterns for Women's Dress 1800-1909 - Jean Hunnisett has built costumes for opera, films, and BBC productions. She has written three books including Period Costume for Stage & Screen - Patterns for Women's Dress 1800-1909 (ISBN 0-04-4400860 1) based on her experience, with patterns taken from period sources and adapted to the modern body (the patterns in the book are sized bust 35", waist 25") The patterns for the Regency include 6 sleeves, 4 bodices, 6 skirts, a corset, a petticoat, and suggestions for trims. She also includes a section on fitting and sewing techniques. (Added: 18-Sep-2002 Hits: 1 Rating: 5.17 Votes: 6) Rate It

Revolution in Fashion 1715-1815 - My favorite book for Regency clothing is Revolution in Fashion 1715-1815. (ISBN=1558590722) This book is based on an exhibit at the Kyoto Costume Institute, and contains 150 photos of (mostly women's) fashions, as well as essays and details of shoes, fans, jewelry, corsets, hats, and other small costume pieces. Although the Regency clothes only occupy a section of this book, the quality and brilliance of the photos makes it well worth having. (Added: 18-Sep-2002 Hits: 1 Rating: 4.67 Votes: 3) Rate It

Gentlemen

An Overview of Men's Patterns - An overview of available commercial patterns for men, from Jessamyn's Regency Costume Companion. popular (Added: 21-Sep-2003 Hits: 2407 Rating: 6.67 Votes: 3) Rate It

Boys' Clothing: the 19th Century - Overview, with illustrations, of boys' fashions. (Added: 26-Nov-2002 Hits: 1503 Rating: 7.50 Votes: 2) Rate It

Clearwater Hat Company - Chapeau Bras, low-crowned, and top hats. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 917 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Folkwear Sewing Patterns: Romantic Styles - You can find a link here to Folkwear's Poet's Shirt, which includes collar and cuff variations. And you can find a link here to an English Smock pattern. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 859 Rating: 3.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

Jas. Townsend & Son: Men's 18th & 19th Century Clothing - Waistcoats, cravats, shirts, and trousers. Also, stocks and breeches. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 1351 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Kannik's Korner Men's Patterns 1790-1820 - A pattern for a man's shirt. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 676 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Past Patterns: Foot Soldier's jacket pattern - Napoleonic Era British Foot Soldier's Jacket circa 1806-1820. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 568 Rating: 9.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

Satin Shadow Designs: The Knight Shadow - Shirts, waistcoats, breeches, and coats for the Regency gentlemen. Each shirt order includes instructions for tying the cravat. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 964 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

The Regency Neckcloth - Neckclothitania illustration and descriptions from 1818. You can find a larger image here on the Republic of Pemberley site. (Added: 21-Sep-2003 Hits: 1298 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Wingeo: patterns - Patterns for a gentleman's double-breasted waistcoat and frockcoat. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 523 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Hairstyles & Millinery

Austentation: Hats & Bonnets - Several charming styles available for purchase, as well as a link to a site offering caps. popular (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 1926 Rating: 5.50 Votes: 4) Rate It

Hairstyles - Regency hairstyles, illustrated from period sources, at Jessamyn's Regency Costume Companion. popular (Added: 21-Sep-2003 Hits: 4073 Rating: 10.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

In Timely Fashion - Of particular interest, this site offers illustrated step-by-step directions for Regency hair styles. popular (Added: 15-Sep-2003 Hits: 2537 Rating: 10.00 Votes: 2) Rate It

Wingeo: hat patterns - Patterns for a variety of hats, bonnets, turbans, and reticules. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 798 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Jewelry

Hope Diamond - There's reason to believe that George IV owned the Hope Diamond when it was called the French Blue. Photo and history of the stone from the gem and mineral collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. (Added: 27-Aug-2002 Hits: 1134 Rating: 5.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

Napoleon's Crown For His Empress Marie Louise - Napoleon I gave this crown to his consort Empress Marie Louise. Set in silver, the 950 diamonds weigh 700 carats. The 79 original emeralds have been replaced with Persian turquoise cabochons. From the gem and mineral collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. (Added: 27-Aug-2002 Hits: 1242 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Modistes

Arts et Metiers - Fine Historical Garments Recreated - Historical Garments recreated as accurately as possible, the emphasis being on Georgian and Regency clothes, and also featuring soundly researched historical maternity wear and childrens garments. (Added: 24-Oct-2004 Hits: 1 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Dragonfly Formals - Regency reproduction clothing for women, ranging from day dress to ball gowns, evening wear in general and bridal wear. (Added: 25-Oct-2004 Hits: 1 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Earthly Delights Period Costumes - Aylwen Garden, in Australia, offers Regency (and other era) gowns and clothing for men, women, and children. The Regency page has a brief overview, links to various associated sites, photos of a reproduction child's gown, and information about her Regency dressmaking classes in Canberra. popular (Added: 15-Dec-2003 Hits: 1750 Rating: 8.33 Votes: 3) Rate It

Nehelenia Designs - Nehelenia´s Regency Pavillion features fine Regency clothing, also reproduction costumes from famous movies (Sense & Sensibility, Emma and others). popular (Added: 25-Jun-2003 Hits: 1564 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Regency Reproductions - Historically accurate civilian clothes and uniforms for men, women and children 1795-1835. (Added: 25-Oct-2005 Hits: 2 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Satin Shadow Designs - Several styles of Regency gowns available. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 1325 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Seamstress in Residence - and others - Several seamstresses recommended by Jennie Chancey of Sense and Sensibility patterns as being familiar with her pattern line. (Added: 15-Sep-2003 Hits: 665 Rating: 10.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

Patterns

AlterYears - AlterYears is more focused on costuming, including supplies such as grommets, boning, and millinery findings. Among the two dozen pattern companies they carry are 4-5 companies that have Regency styles, including men's and women's fashions, civilian and military, and accessories including hats, reticules, turbans and corsets. These patterns are all sized (many of them from size 6-20) and adapted for modern bodies and modern seamstresses.

AlterYears
8960 East Huntington Drive
San Gabriel, CA 91775
ph: (626) 614-9400
fax: (626) 614-9499
sales@alteryears.com
popular (Added: 18-Sep-2002 Hits: 1896 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Amazon Drygoods - The other major mail order catalog is Amazon Drygoods. Janet Burgess' focus is on living history and re-enactment, so she carries, in addition to books and patterns, many items for period living, such as stockings, fans, ready-made hats, musical instruments, cookbooks, kitchenware, etc. Many of these items are Victorian, but most of them can also be used for a Regency impression. She actually has three catalogs, one for patterns, one for books and general items, and one for custom order shoes and boots.

Amazon Drygoods
2218 E. 11th Street
Davenport, IA 52803
(Added: 18-Sep-2002 Hits: 903 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

An Overview of Regency Patterns - From Jessamyn's Regency Costume Companion, an overview of commercial patterns for women's gowns, underpinnings, and outerwear, and men's garments. (Added: 21-Sep-2003 Hits: 1200 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Folkwear Sewing Patterns: Romantic Styles - Folkwear offers an early Regency gown with train options. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 477 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Kannik's Korner- A Historical Costume Pattern and Book Publisher - Patterns for men's shirts, women's shifts, accessories such as pockets, caps, mitts, a cape and stockings(!) Also, a complete wardrobe for a pre-toddler. Books include two modern guides to period hand sewing, and The Lady's Economical Assistant, a reprint of an 1808 handbook. All three books are type-set and bound in period fashion. (Added: 1-Aug-2001 Hits: 779 Rating: 10.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

La Mode Bagatelle at Ravenrook - La Mode Bagatelle published a remarkably comprehensive pattern for a Regency wardrobe. The pattern is now available from Ravenrook. (Added: 1-Aug-2001 Hits: 1419 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Past Patterns: early Federalist gown - An early (1796-1806) gown pattern taken from an American original. Requires a corset to wear. (Past Patterns will be publishing an appropriate corset pattern as well.) (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 490 Rating: 8.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

Sense and Sensibility Patterns - Sense and Sensibility makes a gown pattern and a spencer/pelisse pattern both of which come with several variations. These patterns are easier to sew than La Mode Bagatelle and are designed to work without period underpinnings. This site has a 'show and tell' gallery and step-by-step insructions with photos. popular (Added: 25-Aug-2002 Hits: 1747 Rating: 10.00 Votes: 3) Rate It

The Mantua-Maker - The mantua-maker offers patterns for a Regency corset, gown, and open robe. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 531 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Wingeo: patterns - Patterns for an early Regency gown, overdress, and pelisse. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 440 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Sites

The History of Costume - Early Nineteenth Century - This site contains illustrations from a late 19th century costuming book originally printed in Germany. The pages on the early 19th c. cover civilian fashions in Germany and France, and military uniforms from Bavaria. popular (Added: 1-Aug-2001 Hits: 2955 Rating: 8.80 Votes: 5) Rate It

BEYOND THE FRINGE Shawls of Paisley Design - The finest shawls came from Kashmir in India, but Scottish weavers soon produced the Paisley shawl as a worthy rival. This site shows a few patterns and gives a 3 page history of these fashionable drapes. (Added: 1-Aug-2001 Hits: 695 Rating: 10.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

Candice's Collections - Candice Hern has amassed a wonderful collection of Regency items - fashion plates, scent bottles, sentimental jewelry and the like. She is sharing these in a section of her website. (Added: 18-Dec-2001 Hits: 1305 Rating: 10.00 Votes: 4) Rate It

Colors and Weddings - This site has information about some of the more obscure color-names from the Regency, as well as articles on Regency weddings and wedding dresses. (Added: 11-Sep-2005 Hits: 335 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Costume Classroom - Want to make your own Regency gown but lack the confidence to tackle the project on your own? Check the schedule for Regency classes. (Added: 26-Nov-2002 Hits: 849 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Fashion Plate Collection at the University of Washington - The University of Washington has posted online over 400 fashion plates from 1806-1915. The Regency period is well represented. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 953 Rating: 8.00 Votes: 1) Rate It

Fashion-Era: Regency Fashion 1800-1825 - This site analyzes the influences on Regency fashion. (Added: 16-Sep-2003 Hits: 1446 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

Gaelen Foley's - Explanations of a lady's wardrobe, from the skin out - with descriptions of the various gowns and when they would be worn. popular (Added: 28-Nov-2002 Hits: 2269 Rating: 10.00 Votes: 2) Rate It

Jessamyn's Regency Costume Companion - Do you wish to create a Regency costume? Jessamyn's Regency Costume Companion is a collection of information, ideas, pattern tips, and images that will help you make your dreams a reality. (Added: 1-Aug-2001 Hits: 1356 Rating: 10.00 Votes: 7) Rate It

Kent State University Museum - Kent State University has photos (from several angles) of six gowns from 1800-1829. (Added: 21-Sep-2003 Hits: 536 Rating: 8.50 Votes: 2) Rate It

Koshka the Kat - Regency Era - This site is an online record of Katherine's reproduction sewing and her actual historical costume pieces. The Regency section includes among other things a detailed look at an 1820's bodice and 1820-40's corset (including reproductions and a pattern for the corset) and a fascinating look at getting dressed in a drop-front bodice from a Patterns of Fashion pattern. (Added: 28-Sep-2003 Hits: 653 Rating: 9.00 Votes: 2) Rate It

Regency Dress at the Republic of Pemberley - This page is now mostly devoted to images and notes on the women's clothing styles of the "extended" Regency period (see table of contents). Also, some 1895 illustrations to Pride and Prejudice by C. E. Brock are included at the end of this file; they seem to present Regency styles fairly well, and they also enter into the spirit of the humor often present in the book -- and above all, they don't make Elizabeth Bennet and other sensible young females look silly! popular (Added: 1-Aug-2001 Hits: 2407 Rating: 10.00 Votes: 2) Rate It

The Lady's Monthly Museum - Fashion plates from January to June 1806. (Added: 28-Sep-2003 Hits: 482 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Rate It

The Regency Fashion Page - Catherine Decker has gathered fashion plates from different Regency periodicals covering a wide range of styles - day dresses, evening dresses, riding habits, court dresses, and even domino and masquerade costumes. This section of her fascinating site also contains portraits, photos of period garments, and a year-by-year guide to the fashions. popular (Added: 1-Aug-2001 Hits: 3184 Rating: 7.00 Votes: 3) Rate It

The Regency Garderobe - A repository of regency fashion plates, research information, and advice for reproduction fashions of the regency era. popular (Added: 7-Nov-2002 Hits: 2290 Rating: 9.89 Votes: 9) Rate It