3.29.2011

Regency inspired

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I was incredibly inspired by this post placing screen stills from costume dramas, and photos from street fashion blogs side by side, as if the photographed were inspired by the films. It's a great way to show that you don't have to be in costume to pay homage to your favorite film or character.
I recently re-watched Wives and Daughters, one of my favorite period miniseries. Although towards the end of the film it enters my least favorite era of fashion, the main character stays fairly consistant in her plain country frocks. It's always the practical fashion I love most in costume dramas, not the hight of fashion ensembles. In any film that follows the goings on of servants, I'm usually more interested in their clothing than the wealthy, fashionable families :)

With this outfit, it's mostly the hairstyle that pulls it together as "regency inspired". I just used this pincurl set, but instead of brushing the front up, I brushed it to the side, and used hairpins (not bobby pins) to secure the back up. Now I just need a bonnet....

Dress-Made by me using a 1930s pattern

Cardigan, boots, pin, and wool shawl-Urban Eccentric Vintage

39 comments:

Miss Miranda said...

The curls are beautiful. I love the dress too! Thank you for sharing!

avintagespirit (Lizzy) said...

Your hair looks so pretty! Such a lovely outfit, that pin is fabulous. I just love regency fashion :) Wives and Daughter is one of the few period miniseries I haven't seen yet.

Rosie Alia said...

I LOVE you homemade dress! And your hair looks lovely in this! xx

Dakota said...

Just gorgeous!! I'm in a Jane Austen *film* class this semester, where we basically sit around watching and analyzing all the different Austen film adaptations, and all the amazing regency costuming is making me obsessed with 19th century fashion!

Meg Eileen Carroll said...

your photography is always stunning. this reminds me so much of many jane austen novels. i think you'd make quite a good emma or elizabeth bennet.
p.s. love the brooch

This one said...
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Solanah said...

Dakota, that sounds AMAZING!

Holly, I find your particular comment less inspiring and thought out than any other. Your confidence to leave such a remark however is astonishing.

Anonymous said...

I'm getting Pride and Prejudice from this, definitely. I love everything you're wearing! Did you make the dress? If you did, where did you get the pattern? (I'm trying to learn how to make clothes.)
Also, I was wondering, do you brush out your pincurls individually to get them to stay so defined, or is it just the product you put in afterwards? When I brush out pincurls I get a sort of Rita Hayworth thing, but I'm usually going for defined curls so I have to leave them separate. Haven't worked out the brushing thing.
You look gorgeous, by the way :)
Becky

Lady in black said...

I love your look. And the boots are just fabulous :)

Unknown said...

Sounds like you would really enjoy UpstairsDownstairs on Masterpeice. It is coming on, I believe this Sunday.

XoX Sandy

james said...

ahhhh. i am loving your hair girl :)

Madeline Quaint said...

You avsolutely look like a heroine in a book!

How come you don't have a bonnet? A hat-lover like you! :) Hope you find one soon! :)

Erika said...

Love the outfit! Very 19th c feel to it. The post you linked to was very interesting, the feel of a period costume can indeed be translated to modern era clothes.

I also love costume dramas, but will have to admit that I enjoy both the upstairs and downstairs fashions =)

None said...

do you have any tips or book recommendations on how to spot true vintage items and date them? My local library doesn't seem to have any.

Annuschka said...

The brooch is cute :)

Alli said...

Your hair looks so quaint like that. And I LOVE your boots! They are awesome :)

Unknown said...

The curls are very sweet!

xx Charlotte
Tuppence Ha'penny Vintage

Nanina said...

You rock the red lips like I can only wish I could :-)

Relatable Style

Agnus said...

I love your outfit! I've been reading your blog for some time now and your every outfit is adorable and beautiful. Wish I were as classy as you are:)
Greetings!

Jemima said...

Hello :) you look amazing, I love your hair. The print on your dress is gorgeous, and that brooch...! Such lovely photos. xx

Casey Maura said...

I haven't watched W&D in years; I think I'll need to rewatch it soon since it was one of my favorites for awhile! :) Loving your outfit--the dress is so darling!

♥ Casey

Anonymous said...

LOVE it! I especially love your hair, I usually try to curl my hair like this but it's too long it never stays in! Love the blog!

xoxo

http://atomic-chic.blogspot.com/

SMiles said...

For bonnets I suggest Timely Tresses:

http://www.timelytresses.com/

:)

Your blog is always so inspiring. I really need to peruse that link you posted, as I love period dramas and need to work more of that love into my wardrobe. Wives and Daughters is definitely my favourite mini-series. Her practical country frocks always appeal to me too.

Samurai Mom said...

Are you serious? The romantic era is my FAVORITE period of costume after the 1950s!

Meg said...

Your hair looks so lovely! How did you do it? Pin rolled, rag rolled, or curling iron?

The Witchery Vintage said...

I love your shawl and boots! Love inspiring mini series! Please do a Mildred Pierce one next! xoxoxo

Amber said...

my goodness you did a lovely job with this dress, makes me wanna learn to sew

BaronessVonVintage said...

Oh, Wives and Daughters is such an interesting book...and I recall really enjoying the miniseries. I recall the book being filled with lots and lots of references to 1830s fashion and shopping (though of course, I think Gaskell would be smiling in approval and agreement with your preference of Molly's simpler country frocks being superior to too much finery (like Cynthia!). Anyway, that is a precious dress you've made. I love the fabric!

Carlin said...

And I, on the other hand, really really wish that wearing high victorian fashion was A. physically possible sans waist training and B. societally acceptable. Regency/empire fashion I can get away with, but Victorian is difficult. Elizabethan is easier for me to get "inspired" by.... and more recent "eras" (like what you wear most days ) are what I'm aspiring to amass in my closet at present.
Your hair, however, looks just like how I do it about two days out of every week :D

Vivi said...

oOoOoh your blog is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
x f o l l o w i n g x

vivI.Iviv
www.lovexevol.blogspot.com

PinkBow said...

your hair is amazing, you really suit it.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful as always!

lesavendano said...

I just wanted to say that I love your blog so much! Also if you love Wives and Daughters, you should watch North and South (which is also a book by Elizabeth Gaskell, who wrote Wives and Daughters.)

Victoria / Justice Pirate said...

I was thinking of Shirley Temple when I saw these but your rendition of reasoning behind it makes more sense. hehe. I love the dress.

Anonymous said...

Your hair looks amazing! It's such a pity pin curls don't work for my hair at all!

Stephanie Lee said...

Wow, it's amazing to find more people who like the idea of wearing regency-inspired clothes! Just last week when it got warm for a day, I was taking photos similar to these in my garden (long broderie dress, big shawl, curly hair - and I do have a straw bonnet!) - you look lovely :)

Solanah said...

astreael, I did make it! It's a vintage pattern I got on Etsy. As far as the hair goes, brushing out takes a bit of practice. In this case I brushed it out as one, then took some pomade and separated and shaped individual curls.

Vally, some libraries have reproduction department store catalogues, like sears, or montgomery wards. They are perfect for dating clothing. Mostly you just have to look at authentic clothing, see how it's made, fabrics used etc. to help authenticate other clothes.

Thanks SMiles!

Samurai Mom, yeah, I don't HATE it, but it's just my least favorite :)

Meg, I used pin curls.

leavendano, thank you! I love North and South, another favorite!

C.A.H.B said...

what a cute broach!!xxx

She Can't Decide said...

this is one of my most favorite of your looks ever! very pretty indeed!