Jane Austen’s Fashion Bible
Jane Austen’s Fashion Bible is a great gift book for a very specific reader. They must be sufficiently interested in Jane Austen’s work to want a book which combines excerpts from Austen with Regency era fashion plates from La Belle Assemblee, a periodical that published its first issue in 1806. But they also have just the right level of interest – too much, and this book will leave them feeling cheated of more information.
This book has an interesting introduction which explains the history of the magazine La Belle Assemblee. It goes on to pair excerpts from Austen’s books with fashion plates from the magazine.
My issue with this book is the lack of detail – but then, I’m a reader who wants a lot of details. I wanted to read about fabrics, and undergarments, and stockings, and how clothing was adjusted for pregnancy, and what working classes wore, and whether or not women really did get their ballgowns wet as a means to increase their transparency. This is not that book.
However, it is a lovely book for someone who just wants a surface-level look at what women were wearing during the Regency period, and the fashion plates are truly beautiful. I also liked the glossary. This book would make a nice gift for anyone who isn’t really deep into history or costuming, and even then, they might like the plates.
– Carrie S
Two beautifully crafted worlds are brought together in this celebration of Regency fashion and the writing of Jane Austen.
Exquisite colour drawings from Regency magazine La Belle Assemblée and their entertaining descriptions are matched with much-loved passages from Jane Austen’s published novels, letters and manuscript fiction. Professor Ros Ballaster’s lively commentary guides the reader through this fascinating book.
From elaborate evening gowns and elegant walking dresses to charming seaside outfits, Jane Austen’s Fashion Bible brings to life the world of Jane Austen.
Nonfiction
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Thanks!
Onto the list it goes!
Thank you. Agree on details. I think publishers are slapping Austen on anything in hopes of sale this year.
There’s a delightful exhibition in Bath, UK, about Austen’s view of the town: “the most tiresome place in the world”. It includes info on Bath when Austen lived there and letters from her, as well as examples of merchandising using her name, including a bottle of “Bath Gin” with a drawing of Austen, winking and smirking, on the label (!). What she would have said about that … ! It’s in the No. 1 Royal Crescent Museum, whose exhibits include clothes, as well as furnishings, decoration and crockery, with videos of short readings of relevant pieces of Austen’s work. Highly recommended.
Fashion historian Hilary Davidson’s Dress in the Age of Jane Austen and Jane Austen‘s Closet might give you the level of detail that you’re wanting. I’ve only read the first one so far, but there’s a wonderful combination of in depth history of clothing and culture and many many many illustrations and photographs.
If you’ve been to the Jane Austen exhibit at the Morgan library in New York, she’s the one who sewed the reproduction of Austen‘s pelisse on display. For this, she was entrusted with the original pelisse in the Jane Austen museum in Chawton. I mean.