Ann Lethbridge's Blog, page 8

Regency Fashion August 1815

Such a pretty summer evening dress for August 1815 from Ackermann's Repository.

A WHITE satin petticoat, ornamented at the feet with a broad border of tull and satin; a frock-body, tied behind, composed of tull and satin, with a quilling of tull terminating at each end point of the shoulder-strap; a short sleeve, richly ornamented with frilled tull, corresponding to the bottom of the dress; short sash of white satin, tied in full bows behind.         Cap composed of white satin and gathered tull, decorated in the front with a full wreath formed of tull edged with satin. Stockings plain silk. Slippers white kid or ribbed sarsnet. Gloves French kid, drawn over the elbow.        The waists of both morning and full dress continue extremely short, and the backs in full dress are generally brought very low, and frequently to the bottom of the waist. The fronts of both high and low bodies continued without alteration; and are made plain, to fit the shape.       In morning and promenade dress the sleeve is universally long, and this month worn of the same material as the dress. The short full sleeve is equally prevalent in evening costume. The length of the walking petticoat continues to meet the top of the sandal, which appears in more estimation than the boot. The most prevailing colours for the present month are, Pomona green, primrose, apple-blossom, and the celestial blue.
I love that we get the names of the popular colours for the month don't you?Ann Lethbridge

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Regency Fashion July 1815

I hope you are having a wonderful summer.  I have been enjoying the good weather, but do not want to say goodbye to July without our second fashion feature, which I am inputting sitting on my deck with a warm breeze blowing.
I really like this gown, and love that it uses pomona green satin in stripes.  Clearly our young lady is of a musical bent, at least I am seeing this as a song book, what do you think?

Evening Gown - July 1815 from Ackermann's Repository

A white satin slip, worn under a dress formed of tull, with folds of satin of Pomona green and white alternately let in, terminating at the feet with a rich flounce of blond lace, headed with a broad border of white roses, appliqued with lilies of the valley.

A frock front, tastefully varied with tull and satin ribbon; the back brought to a point, reaching the bottom of the waist, and trimmed from the points of the stomacher in front with quilling of blond lace.

Short fancy sleeve of tull and satin ribbon, corresponding with the front of the dress. Short sash of net edged with green satin, tied in bows behind.

Head-dress, a plume of ostrich feathers; necklace, pearl; ear-drops and bracelets to correspond; slippers, white satin; gloves of French kid, drawn over the elbow.

The dresses of this month, as well as those of the last, are furnished by Mrs. Bean, of Albemarle-street, a lady to whose taste and invention the fashionable world is under considerable obligations.

And for those who prefer to sit indoors and embroider, a pattern you can try from the same issue.
One of these days I am going to give one of these a go.  Until next time……..

Travelling Through Regency England

It wasn't all grand houses, you know.  So as I travel I take pictures of places my heroes and heroines might pass or visit on their way through the English countryside.

Here are a couple from around Lulworth.

 This Church abuts the castle and would have served the protestant congregation in counterpoint the to Roman Catholic Church inside the grounds.











A view I could not resist as we departed Lulworth














One cannot go far without finding a village in.  This is the Weld Arms, Weld being the family name of those who owned Lulworth Castle you will recall from earlier posts.  I though I would mention it just in case you did not.



This in dates from the 17th century and with a bit of imagination it can be used as a stopping place along the road of any Regency journey









Part of the back of the inn in case it might be needed for a quick escape.











Here we have a shot of the interior. Something tells me this is a combining of two floors.  I would re-imagine that upper window as looking out over the road from a private parlour.


 This interior with its low ceiling looks far more how I would imaging the lower floor of this inn.  But of course it to has been updated.


Below we have the sign with the Weld family Arms.








And so we leave Dorset and move on to Hampshire.  More next time

Great Offer for Canadian Readers

As a writer, I thought this one was too good not to promote to my Canadian #readers in case they did not see it:

This weekend only

Buy a Kobo and get a $10 Kobo Gift Card for FREE Online Only at Indigo.ca!

After all, but what is summer all about.  Reading Reading Reading.

For the rest of the world ~ you know where to find your books, hopefully you will find an equally good promotion.

Until next time…..

Regency Fashion July 1815

 Bikini in the Regency? Not so much. But you can see her ankles. This is what you wore on the beach two hundred years ago. Mind you I have spent some chilly days on an English beach in July as a kid, as well as some lovely warm ones.


WALKING DRESS - from Ackermann's Repository for July 1815
                A HIGH dress, of short walking length, made of French cambric or jaconot muslin, trimmed at the feet with treble flounces of French work, gathered into a rich bead-heading, and laid upon the dress, at a suitable distance, one above the other; 
the body made with open fronts, worn with a full ruff of the French work, corresponding to the trimming at the feet; a long sleeve, drawn alternately across the arm, terminates with a broad wristband, worn plain over the hand.
French bonnet of white satin, edged and tied under the chin with satin ribbon of celestial blue; ornamented with a rich plume of white feathers, edged to correspond. 
French mangle of the twilled silk en suite, richly embroidered at the ends in shaded silks, composing roses or lilies of the valley. Patent silk stockings. Slippers, or half-boots, of blue kid, or primrose colour. Gloves to correspond.                 Additional note regarding general fashions for the month
 The bodies of the morning and promenade costume continue to be worn with cross or handkerchief fronts, and are generally trimmed, agreeably to the texture of the dress, with quilled tull or ribbon. The quilled ribbon is also predominate in single rows at the feet of all dresses composed of silk, bombazeen, or fancy prints. The prevailing colours are primrose, celestial blue, and evening primrose; the waist short, and the fullness of the petticoat carried to the back. Ruffs of French work are universally worn, except in full dress. The length of the petticoat continues not to exceed meeting the top of the boot; and the colour of the latter corresponds with the glove, mantle, and trimming of the bonnet.
I love the sound of celestial blue, don't you?  Until next time.....

Regency Fashion June 1815

 What better way to end June than with this lovely carriage dress from Ackermann's repository.

Here is the description

White satin pelisse, richly ornamented at the feet with clusters of leaves made in white twilled sarsnet, headed with tull; open fronts, trimmed to the bottom of the waist with a superb shell trimming of white satin ribbon and tull; loose unconfined sleeve, with corresponding trimmings at the hand. 

Hat composed of white satin and tull, with a plume of feathers of the Pomona green. 

Half-boots of similar colour. Gloves en suite.


I have the feeling that this lady has been waiting quite some time to be collected for her carriage ride. Or did she just hear a knock at the door? Either way, it is very pretty.

And in case you are feeling energetic, here is some needlework from the same edition you might like to have a go a in your spare time.



Until next month.....

Last Day for the Goodreads Giveaway

Click here for the link.

Until next time…………..

Giveaway on Goodreads

I love having a new book out, and to celebrate I am giving away two copies of The Duke's Daring Debutante on Goodreads.

The action-packed, sexy offshoot of Lethbridge's Beresford Abbey series begins when the grown-up Minette arrives at Duke Freddy's gaming hall with a dangerous proposition…. Lethbridge makes Minette and Freddy's journey to love a must-read. ~ 4 Stars ~ Romantic Times 

Description:

Disgraced by His Grace!

Frederick, Duke of Falconwood, has vowed never to marry, instead dedicating himself to protecting his country. But when he's caught in a very compromising position with a coquettish debutante, Freddy does the only thing that will salvage her reputation—he proposes marriage! 

Even though Minette Rideau craves the stoic duke's touch, she knows she can't become his wife. For giving in to her desires will reveal a shameful secret, putting much more than her virtue in jeopardy…

The Duke's Daring Debutante is book three in the Beresford Abbey Trilogy.

The previous books are:

Haunted by the Earl's Touch (Book One) Published February 2013
Captured Countess (Book Two) Published December 2014

Follow the link in the sidebar, or check out my website for more information.

Until next time………...

Regency Fashion - June 1815

Two Hundred years ago today, what might the ladies have worn to the Duchess of Richmond's ball a few nights before the battle of Waterloo?

This seems to be the perfect gown, doesn't it?

From gowns for June 1815 by way of  Ackermann's the description is as follows:

A FROCK of French figured gauze, worn over a slip of white satin; the frock trimmed at the feet with a deep flounce of blond lace, and decorated with wreaths of lilac; 

the fronts of the body ornamented with a cope of blond lace; short full sleeve, trimmed to correspond. 

Stockings of elastic silk. Slippers white silk or kid. 

Gloves French kid, drawn over the elbow. 

Hair in irregular curls, blended with a wreath of lilac.

Yes, I can see the ladies of the day in this, flirting with the young officers about to meet Napoleon. The glitter of jewelry, the scarlet and blue of uniforms and the dazzle of gold braid and among them all, Wellington as cool as a cucumber.

By the way, don't miss my Goodreads Giveaway for the Duke's Daring Debutante.

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Goodreads Book Giveaway The Duke's Daring Debutante by Ann Lethbridge Giveaway ends June 25, 2015.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to Win
Until next time…..

Celebrating a Coronation in the Regency

Or at least, the coronation that ended the Regency.  I found this little gem in Totnes in Devon, England.  If you have never heard of Totnes, it is a town with a long history, more of which we will be hearing about later.  This however was an unexpected glimpse into Regency life.

Bear with me. This is not a great photo but circumstances were difficult.  These are the regulations to celebrate George IV's coronation and to summarize,

The Committee and the local folk were to assemble at 10 am and preceded by a band process to Mayoralty House were they would pick up the Corporation (town corporation or Council)  and from thence attend a religious service.

After which they would process back to the Bowling-green, where the Stewards would take their stations at tables set out where "Oh the Roast Beef of Old England" would be heard and I assume served and be said stewards would "joined by their neighbours in the attack on the solid fair provided for the occasion."

It advises that "Every person must provide himself with a Plate, Knife and Fork and Cup and take his station with his family specified in is ticket".

At five O'clock tables will be cleared and tea provided for females and children under the supervision of LADIES.  So the Ladies are the gentry one assumes are laying this on for the general populace.

After this the Festivities are to conclude with Music and Dancing on the Bowling-green.

So in the Regency, that is how a Coronation was celebrated in a very small town in Devon.

Until next time…..