What's In Your Regency Wardrobe?

[cosmoblue]

What is in your regency wardrobe?

Ladies, how many gowns do you have? In what colors are those gowns? How many corsets/stays?How many under dresses? How many shifts? How many bonnets, spencers, open robes, shoes, and pairs of gloves? How many sashes? How many bandeaux? How many necklaces? How many reticules?

Gentlemen, how many waistcoats? How many cravats, watch fobs, and hats do you have?

Describe all of the garments, accessories, and accoutrements you have in infinite detail. I want to know all about it. Also if you could describe how you put some or all of your ensembles together, that would be lovely. I would not be at all disappointed to see pictures (even if it is just a box full of garments).

[Goblin, esq.]

Infinite detail, eh? That will have to wait until I get home. :-)

But I do have a wardrobe; I have enough pieces that I can mix and match and create outfits to match the occasion, rather than entire single costumes. And I think that's an important difference between costuming and re-enacting.

[cosmoblue]

Chris - I am breathless with anticipation.

[Goblin, esq.]

As asked for, in nigh-infinite detail:

Coats:

One green wool coat, M-notch collar, double breasted,. Brown silk lining, self-covered buttons.
One black wool coat, stand-and-fall collar, curved fronts. Grey silk lining, self-covered buttons, but no buttonholes; coat doesn't button.
One navy blue wool uniform, Royal Navy 1795-1812 dress uniform, gilt regulation buttons, gold lace, straps for epaulettes. White lining, part cotton/part silk.
One navy blue wool uniform, curved fronts with lapels, stand collar, non-working mariner's cuffs, straps for epaulettes. Whilte silk/cotton lining, gold-colored buttons.
One bright blue wool, "Touraine uniform" (originally for a LARP), curved fronts, lapels, white (poly) braid on lapels and cuffs. Blue cotton Japanese print lining, silver-colored buttons.

Waistcoats:

One white-on-white striped silk waistcoat with wide lapels, stand collar, white linen back and lining, self-covered buttons (no pockets).
One red wool waistcoat with stand collar, white linen back, lining and piping, gilt anchor buttons.
One off-white wool waistcoat with stand collar, white linen back and lining, older style with pocket flaps, gilt anchor buttons.
One cream wool waistcoat with stand collar, white cotton back and lining, gilt anchor buttons.
One bright blue wool, "Touraine uniform" waistcoat, blue cotton Japanese print lining, older style with pocket flaps, silver-colored buttons.

Breeches & trousers:

Fawn wool breeches, brass (non-shank) buttons, brass buckles.
Off-white wool breeches, gold-colored buttons, lacks buckles.
Cream wool breeches, gilt anchor buttons, brass buttons, well fitting.
Striped canvas trousers, white (non-shank) buttons.
Off-white pantaloons, gold-colored buttons. (needs re-fitting)
Bright blue wool breeches, "Touraine uniform", silver-colored buttons, buttons at knees.

Shirts & underclothes:

One cotton shirt, ruffles at cuffs and front.
One linen shirt, pointed collar.
One linen shirt, tall collar.

One pair linen drawers, fly, button front, ties at knees.

Two pair cotton stockings.
One pair off-white wool stockings.

One pair leather garters, brass buckles.
One pair braces, cotton webbing, leather fittings.

One pair shoes, brass buckles.
One pair boots, black.

Two neckcloths, white cotton square.
One neckcloth, white cotton strip.
One neckcloth, black silk square.
One neckcloth, cream silk square.

Other:

One low-crowned top hat, felt.
One bicorn, gold lace, black silk cockade, black wool over buckram.

One walking stick, wood, brass knob handle.

One banyan & cap, cross-cut patterned cotton velvet, partial silk lining.

One watch, gold-colored.
One fob, pale gold/black patterned ribbon, bronze orietal-pattern end.
One pair fobs, purple/gold patterned ribbon, carved jade ends.

Several pairs white cotton gloves.
Several white cotton handkerchiefs.

This list doesn't include earlier attempts at garments that I am now unhappy with, and which have been pulled from rotation, as it were.

[Mrs. Goblin]

chrisber said:

Two neckcloths, white cotton square.
One neckcloth, white cotton strip.
One neckcloth, black silk square.
One neckcloth, cream silk square.

You also own a neckcloth, yellow check cotton, for when you're slumming, remember?

[Goblin, esq.]

ladyegg said:

You also own a neckcloth, yellow check cotton, for when you're slumming, remember?

True, but I was thinking it counted as "withdrawn from circulation". I really want to replace it with a printed silk one.

Oh! I also forgot to list various ribbons I use to tie my hair back, and the long silk ribbon for wrapping my pigtail.

[Goblin, esq.]

Master Teo's wardrobe consists of:

One linen cap, now too small.
One cotton frock, small blue print, now too small.

(And one Victorian christening gown, but it's not really Regency.)

[cosmoblue]

Chris - Wow! That is some wardrobe. You could make like 30 ensembles from that.

[Mme de Beaufort]

1 turkey red cotton day dress with long sleeves
1 white cotton jaquard dress with mid-length sleeves
1 S&S short stay I no longer wear
1 Full length corset
2 Shifts
1 Pelisse in Dupioni Silk
1 Spencer with detatchable lower coating, made of fabric I hate.
2 pairs of silk Khussa shoes (1 red, one ivory)

Husband:
2 frock coats in black wool blend
2 waistcoats (one forest green w/ fleurs de lis, the other a brown brocade with embossed acanthus leaves)
1 pair of drop-front breeches
1 large cotton floppy shirt
1 long white cravat
1 sword-cane

[modernmorland]

Not much, I fear. I have three that are wearable, and a fourth that I never finished because I was dissatisfied with the pattern. Pity, though, as that was the most expensive fabric, and my first solo attempt at costume construction. My mother made the others.

I have a lovely bonnet to match one of my gowns, ordered from the woman who's the milliner for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada. I also have a wide-brimmed straw hat from Colonial Williamsburg that isn't really period correct, but I wear it anyway.

Here's a picture of me in my blue gown, with bonnet (forgot to iron bonnet ribbons that day, alas): img.photobucket.com/albums/v477/modernmorland/DSCN3033.jpg
It has three small buttons and some matching blue cord accents on each sleeve. These are very barely visible in the photo. The bonnet has a delicate sprig of artificial white flowers on the left side.

Here's a rather poor-quality picture from my production of Northanger. It's the best front view of my green gown, however, with the added bonus of the hat (which is a bit askew in this photo). photos-875.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v47/120/17/7603875/n7603875_30770094_743.jpg
The green dress has detachable long sleeves of the same fabric.

I don't have any photos of my other gown, but it's a simple white muslin with a small pink and lavender floral pattern. In design, it's more akin to the green dress than the blue, but it's a bit more rustic-looking, with a fuller skirt. It too has detachable sleeves.

My next Regency dress will be much in the style of Marianne's picnic outfit in the '95 S&S, but more formal.

[cosmoblue]

Amy/modernmoreland - I love your dresses, so sweet. The bonnet is very pretty. is this the dress from S&S that you are planning bp3.blogger.com/_f3mHwdbzQ3Y/R0PDSjws8rI/AAAAAAAAFX4/GnY1bLuSszw/s1600-h/s10+copy.jpg?
They have the hat at Austentation www.austentation.com/Boutique/html/marianne.htm

Steph - I totally assumed that you would have a list at least half of the length of Chris's. Well, I am so excited to see how your new pattern increases your wardrobe.

[modernmorland]

Yes! That's the one! Mine will be white/ivory and a brighter gold with a red floral pattern. It's gorgeous fabric. :-) I'm excited!

[cosmoblue]

Amy - That sounds very pretty. You should post some pictures of the fabric in the what are you working on now thread.

[Goblin, esq.]

cosmoblue said:

Chris - Wow! That is some wardrobe. You could make like 30 ensembles from that.

Thanks! For a while I was mixing and matching so that I never went to a ball in an ensemble I'd worn before, but then I lost track of what I'd worn! (We're really bad at remembering to take pictures.)

Still... it's not enough! As I've become a better sewer, my earlier creations just don't measure up. On the to-do list are:

One greatcoat, blue wool, with shoulder capes. Possibly with a changeable collar, so I can have a more military stand collar for when I wear my uniform, or a stand and fall collar for a slightly earlier look. Status: partially cut out, partially sewn.

Another coat; fawn wool, darker collar, single breasted, probably using the pattern I drafted for the dress uniform, possible candidate for the Reconstructing History pattern I'm going to buy when we get home after the holidays. Status: fabric purchased, pattern almost decided on

A pair of close-cut "inexpressible" breeches/pantaloons. Possibly bias cut, possibly without side-seams (a la Cut of Men's Clothes). Status: fabric in stash

A new linen shirt, with ruffles. My current ruffled shirt is cotton, and doesn't fit well at the neck. My most recent linen shirt came out too small, because I mis-measured. :-(

Another waistcoat or two, preferably of a darker color, as all my current ones are pale.

And while I'm dreaming, a better hat, better shoes, and top boots!

But all this will have to be on hold until after Costume Con, as I have other (as yet unstarted) projects for that!

[Goblin, esq.]

chrisber said:

One watch, gold-colored.
One fob, pale gold/black patterned ribbon, bronze orietal-pattern end.
One pair fobs, purple/gold patterned ribbon, carved jade ends.

I suppose I should have added:

One pair epaulettes, gold lace and brass wire (over plastic canvas)

as they didn't get mentioned elsewhere, and the fittings for them were described for the two coats that can use them.

[cosmoblue]

Chris - Costume Con? Wow, that is serious. Are you keeping you costume con stuff secret?

[Goblin, esq.]

cosmoblue said:

Chris - Costume Con? Wow, that is serious. Are you keeping you costume con stuff secret?

I am rather nervous about it. :-) Yes, I'm keeping it a secret because I'm going to be in a group with a bunch of other people, so it's not for me to say.

But I can say that Lady Egg and I will be running the Mad Science Props competition!

Is anyone else going to make it to Costume Con next year?

[dawnluckham]

Most of what I’ve had I’ve sold as it no longer fit me.
And since I mostly sew for other people, I run out of time and have very little in my own wardrobe.
And then there’s the other thing: That I’m willing to sell stuff I’m wearing if people want it. It decreases my wardrobe somewhat.

So, right now I have in my own wardrobe:

5 linen chemises

1 set long stays Period Costume for Stage and Screen
1 Kyoto brassiere
1 Sense and Sensibility stays
2 French wrap stays, one with busk one without (I’m working on the pattern)

1 bodiced petticoat
1 chemisette
1 lace fichu
1 Egyptian cotton fichu
1 linen gauze fichu

1 striped bib front gown
1 sprigged bib front gown
1 linen bib front gown (stolen from my daughter)

2 caps, 1 cotton, one linen
2 “muffin” style silk and straw hats

1 wool cape
5 wool shawls – all different colours and patterns

1 pair of 18th century buckle shoes (transitional style working toward Regency)
2 excellent pair of “Turkish slippers” one green leather the other red leather

2 pairs of mitts 1 cream linen, 1 white Egyptian cotton
2 pairs of knit mitts, 1 natural beige colour the other mustard colour
Various coloured gloves

On my “wish list”

Spencer jacket (sold the one I had)
Bonnet (LOVE the straw one Susan Pasco wears!)
The upcoming Past Patterns Connecticut Historical Society stays
Pelisse
Ball gown (have the sari – just haven’t had the time to make it)
Turban (or alternate head dress) to go with the ball gown
Half robe and coloured petticoats (sold the ones I had)

[cosmoblue]

Dawn - Your wardrobe is by no means unimpressive. I can only imagine what it would be if you sold less of it. I am curious about your French wrap stays. I hope that you will share photos of them in the corsets/ladies underwear section.

[cosmoblue]

My regency wardrobe now consists of:

1 set of long Mantua Maker stays
1 cotton chemise
1 white taffeta evening gown

Yay me! I went from 0-3!