A Regency Era Capsule Wardrobe

Hello, sweet friends. Thank you for all your lovely comments on this week’s earlier post, Jane Austen Festival 2025. This wonderful event was hosted the last weekend in June. Given that I had a short amount of time to prepare for this event and a small amount of packing space available. I made the smart decision to create A Regency Era Capsule Wardrobe.

A Regency Capsule Wardrobe

As many of you are aware I have spent the past 2 years sewing and creating for the Little House 50th Anniversary Celebration. I have had little time to sew anything else and knew I would not be able to make a completely new Regency wardrobe. So I first began by picking out some old favorites. I made sure to focus on attire that would be cool and comfortable in the sweltering summer heat.

The dress features Mameluke sleeves also referred to as Mamaluc, Marie, Gabrielle or Juliet sleeves.

This fashion trend was inspired by Mameluke clothing worn by Turkish soldiers.

There are some lovely extant examples.

I used the Laughing Moon 138 Ladies Back Closing Regency Gown with Fancy Sleeve Options, view “D”.

Saturday Teaching Attire

On Saturday I presented a class on Country Fashions and Georgian Gardening.

The ladies dress I used as an example featured a white half apron and full striped apron. It was inspired by the one worn by Elinor in the Sense and Sensibility engagement scene.

For the full apron I used the Black Snail Empire pattern #0219.

 You can read all the information about the dress in this post.

I wore a lavender linen petticoat and a new short gown that was repurposed from an old tablecloth that had several holes and stains.

The straw bonnet is several years old and Mr. Decor and I worked together to create the parasol.

The neckerchief is a lovely design by Burnley and Trowbridge.

I used the Black Snail Empire dress pattern #0219 to create the short gown. 

I encourage others to seek out textiles to repurpose at thrift stores and estate sales. They are often overlooked but make up so beautifully.

Saturday Evening Ball

I had made a new dress for the ball and someone in my house decided to touch the silk dress with greasy hands. Several methods to try and clean it worked to no avail. So I rewore Marianne’s inspired ball gown from Sense and Sensibility. You can read all the construction details of this blue dress in this post.

Purple Polka Dots

On Sunday I once again wore the the straw bonnet, neckerchief, and white petticoat. It was topped by a new short gown.

In the future I will need to add some loops to the back to keep the ties in place.

Inspiration for this short gown came from this fashion plate.

As well as this extant garment.

I used the Laughing Moon 130 Regency Wrapping Front Trained or Untrained Gown/Tunic pattern and shortened View “A”.

It was a very comfortable garment to wear.

I’d love to know if you attended any of the 250th celebration festivals.

“Woman is fine for her own satisfaction alone. No man will admire her the more, no woman will like her the better for it. Neatness and fashion are enough for the former, and a something of shabbiness or impropriety will be most endearing to the latter.” ~ Northanger Abbey

Laura