Hello, my sweet friends! I want to start out by thanking the multitude of you who left such lovely and caring messages, comments and emails in regards to the passing of our dear Rudi Gunn. It has been a bit of a hard adjustment living with this loss. But we feel such gratitude for having shared our lives with such a wonderful dog. Now for Sunday Smiles Romantic Regency.
Sunday Smiles Romantic Regency
In February I am hosting a Napoleon and Josephine Valentine Tea for the D/FW Costumers Guild. These past three weeks I have made three dresses (with one more to go), one petticoat and a Mr. Darcy inspired vest for the event. Alas, the vest sizing was horribly off on the pattern so it does not fit my Mr. Darcy/Napoleon despite making a mock-up. Le SIGH! As it is made from lovely cream wool I do not want to waste the fabric. So I will try my hand at refashioning it into a sleeveless spencer for myself. I adore the red soutache trim in the fashion plate below.
Costume Parisien, 71 – Turban and Spencer a L’algerienne
Watch It Wiggle
I’ve spent a tremendous amount of time researching the menu for the tea. I read an article on what Napoleon liked to eat and drink and that will have a small influence on what will be served. Jellies or aspics were quite popular dishes in the Empire/Regency era. We have the French to thank for its invention so it seems fitting to serve this blancmange or Snowy Raspberry Gelatin Mold.
Empire Era Centerpiece
Just for clarification, the Regency era occurred in England at the end of the Georgian Era when Mad King George III was unfit to rule and his son ruled in proxy as prince regent. The formal Regency period lasted from 1811 to 1820. But overall the Regency period in fashion/culture/style occurred from 1795 to 1837. It ended when Queen Victoria took the throne.
Meanwhile over in France the First French Empire of Napoleon I and II occurred in the French state from 1804 to 1814 and 1815. The Empire style was an early 19th-century design movement.
The periods and styles have similar aspects. But for technical purposes, the Napoleon and Josephine Tea that I am hosting the location/time of the individuals featured would be considered the First French Empire.
In both eras citrus fruit was prized. They were grown in greenhouses/orangeries. Dinner parties often featured elaborate fruit centerpieces.
Pomanders aka pomme d‘ambre are used as decor by inserting cloves into citrus. The cloves help preserve the citrus as it dries by acting as an anti-microbial.
Here are instructions for creating mandarin centerpieces.
Emma
Who else is looking forward to Jane Austen’s beloved comedy, Emma? The D/FW Costumers will be dressing for the part in February.
You can read more more about the costuming, as well as glimpses of the sets, HERE.
I’ll be back on Tuesday with the first of several Napoleon and Josephine Valentine-themed posts.
Have a lovely Sunday,
Laura
What a wonderful hostess you will be for the tea and how lucky they are you are recreating it all. I can’t wait to see the beautiful gowns and the wonderful table settings!
Those lucky attendees, they’re going to enjoy this event so much! I really admire the attention to detail you put into your interests.
Oh, Laura, what a fun and lovely event. I know you, your home, your table and what you serve will be fabulous. I love tea time. While living in Virginia I took a class on how to prepare and serve a formal tea – it was taught by an Admiral’s wife who was from England. That lead to the forming of a tea society which was wonderful. I will be with you in spirit, can’t wait to see photos. Have fun!
I’ll be so excited to see more and more of your plans and costumes for the tea. These are beautiful photos and so inspiring. I really need to do the citrus pommanders next Christmas. They’re beautiful and smell so good! We were watching Little Women yesterday (and saw the Emma trailer too — yum!) and Marmee and Mr. Laurence were making those and it was yet another reminder. The gowns of the Regency were so pretty — these will be fun to see!
So looking forward to all your preparations for the tea party. I won’t be there in person for the party, but with all your great photos, it will be just like having a “front row seat”!
Hello Mr. Darcy! One of my favorites!
another laura; the one in Colorado ;0)