Local History: Fashion in the Age of Austen

"Tempted By a Pretty Coloured Muslin"
Fashion in the Age of Austen

In a time before super models, fashion designers, and department stores, Jane Austen commented to her sister, “I am amused by the present style of female dress…it seems to me a more marked change than one has lately seen.”

Was Jane a fashionista? Why was she “tempted by a pretty coloured muslin?” How did she and other women keep up with the latest in gowns and accessories? This visual tour of early 19th century fashion plates and garments offers a glimpse into a world before ready-made, where dresses evolved from simple sheer muslins to elaborately layered and trimmed confections. The talk explores trends in silhouettes, fabrics, and trimmings, and explains techniques to recreate one of the more popular embellishments of the day. While the focus is on the ladies, the gentlemen will not be forgotten!

No registration required!

(Austen fans and costume aficionados alike: don't miss our Regency Ball on December 13!)

About the Presenter
Astrida Schaeffer is a clothing historian who has been working with historic garments for over 25 years, as a reproduction seamstress, museum curator, author, and lecturer.