This post is being published on the day that Netflix’s Persuasion hits our computer screens, so of course I needed to feature some Regency fashion. (No, I have not seen it at the time of writing…) The Regency period has a fairly recognisable style. While a garment may not be entirely accurate, most people can spot a Regency gown. But did you know that Regency fashions are actually based on Napoleon’s empire? For this Style File Friday, we are going to trace Regency fashion back to the Continent… Let’s get to the French influence on Regency fashion!
What is the Regency Period?
Strictly speaking, the Regency period in England was 1811 to 1820, when the Prince of Wales served as Regent for his father, King George III. However, the broader period that we commonly accept as Regency is roughly 1793 to 1837.
It was a period of considerable change. Revolutions swept through Europe, including the French Revolution.
French Influence on Regency Fashion in Britain
The aristocracy in Britain had been fascinated by the French for centuries, and would continue to do so. French was often learned by both men and women, and French cuisine and French fashion set trends in England for hundreds of years. Regency fashion is no exception.
The empire silhouette that we widely associate with the Regency period in England references the French Empire, namely Napoleon’s. I find this fascinating because this continued throughout Britain’s wars with France, which would speak to the power of fashion.
French Dress, c. 1804
This dress from the Metropolitan Museum of Art dates to the founding of the First French Empire. The Met explains, “Just a decade after the French Directiore period and the year the Empire was established, this classic Empire silhouette would have been preferred by Empress Josephine. Most portraits of the empress show her in white, the color Napolean preferred her to wear.”
Although this Classical silhouette is far less structured than the fashions favoured in the previous century, the gown is no less detailed.
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I will add my Persuasion review here when it is available, but in the meantime, you can visit my post on Women’s Regency fashion at the Jane Austen Centre!
I hope you enjoyed learning about the French influence on Regency fashion!
Cheers,
The Historian
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