Regency England

Mr. and Mrs. Andrews by Thomas Gainsborough

George III King from 1760 – 1820 House of Hanover but born in England and spoke English as his first language Reign is marked by a series of military conflicts including the American War for Independence and the Napoleonic Wars In later years, suffered from a recurring disease (thought to be porphyria) that left him mentally unstable

George III and Family  George and wife Charlotte had 15 children  Was nicknamed “Farmer George” by satirists to denote his interest in mundane matters, especially in contrast to his son’s grandiosity, but also to denote his as a man of the people  Country was threatened by invasion from France  Dropped the claim to the throne of France (held by British monarachs since Edward III (1300s)

George IV Despite periods of almost constant warfare, also a time of great refinement and cultural achievement Was a patron of the arts Entertained lavishly A notorious womanizer Lived a profligate lifestyle that cost him the respect of his father and the people of England Society was highly stratified Poverty and its associated scourges was an increasing problem, especially in London and the larger cities

Women’s Dress Empire silhouette Inspired by neoclassism Sheer muslin, easily washed and draped loosely Middle and upper class women distinguished between “morning dress” and “evening dress”

Women’s Dress (continued) In the Mirror of Graces; or the English Lady's Costume, published in London in 1811, the author ("a Lady of Distinction") advised: In the morning the arms and bosom must be completely covered to the throat and wrists. From the dinner-hour to the termination of the day, the arms, to a graceful height above the elbow, may be bare; and the neck and shoulders unveiled as far as delicacy will allow. Morning dresses were worn inside the house. They were high-necked and long- sleeved, covering throat and wrists, and generally plain and devoid of decoration. Evening dresses were often extravagantly trimmed and decorated with lace, ribbons, and netting. They were cut low and sported short sleeves, baring bosoms. Bared arms were covered by long white gloves. Our Lady of Distinction, however, cautions young women from displaying their bosoms beyond the boundaries of decency, saying, "The bosom and shoulders of a very young and fair girl may be displayed without exciting much displeasure or disgust." A Lady of Distinction also advised young ladies to wear softer shades of color, such as pinks, periwinkle blue, or lilacs. The mature matron could wear fuller colors, such as purple, black, crimson, deep blue, or yellow. Many women of this era remarked upon how being fully dressed meant the bosom and shoulders were bare, and yet being under-dressed would mean one's neckline went right up to one's chin

Men’s Dress Lace and frills were abandoned in favor of excellent cut and tailoring Breeches became longer; tight riding breeches were shorter for boots while street- wear required longer trousers Coats were cut-away in the front with long tails or skirts behind with tall standing collars Shirts were linen and had attached collars

Men’s dress (continued) The cravat wrapped around the collar and tied in various fashions Waistcoats were relatively high waisted and squared off at the bottom and were often double-breasted and had high collars Beau Brummel set the fashion in London characterized by immaculate personal cleanliness, immaculate linen shirts, perfectly tied cravats, and exquisitely tailored plain dark coats Long powdered hair and wigs were abandoned (except on extremely formal occasions or by certain professions)

Men’s fashions (continued) Hair was cut short, often with curls; hair wax became popular Tricorn and bicorn hats were still worn, but one that was tall and slightly conical became all the rage and finally became the top hat of the next century Corsets were not uncommon It could take hours to dress for a formal occasion

Other sites to visit Got Etiquette? Courtship and-customs-courtship-in.htmlhttp://auroraregency.blogspot.com/2011/03/etiquette- and-customs-courtship-in.html Music Dance dance.html#morehttp:// dance.html#more Weddings General and-the-regency-world/ and-the-regency-world/

Bibliography Gainsborough, Thomas. Andrews, Mr. and Mrs Painting. Scattered Heritage, Warsaw, Poland. Web. 11 Apr "History of the British Monarchy: George III." The Official Website of the British Monarchy. The Royal Household, Web. 19 Apr "History of the British Monarchy: George IV." The Official Website of the British Monarchy. The Royal Household, Web. 19 Apr Thomas, Pauline Weston. "Regency Fashion 1800s Costume History." Fashion Era. Pauline Weston Thomas, Web. 19 Apr