… of the newly founded United States and Europe during the 1790 to 1800 era, opened up the eyes of women worldwide. Fast ships (thanks to the improvement of the steam engine), mass produced printed news (thanks to improvement of the printing press), and more and more travelers going outside …

… wear.  Wool, velvet,  & heavy cottons were favorites in cooler climates too.  Towards 1810, more decoration was added. (photo:  Regency Formal attire)

… to tie them on.  In the late 1700’s, while there were buttons, metal hooks/eyes, zippers, and other ways of attaching clothing hadn’t been invented yet.   (photo:  1805 gowns on the inside, showing how creative women were by using strings to keep that high waistline up high)

…in the Regency era. (photos: 1805 “daytime dresses” of cotton print, India dyed)

… (1790-1805) the “Little White Dress” was for evening wear. (photos: evening gowns with accessories and trim for evening)

We’re finalizing the connection between the Silhouettes Costumes website and this Facebook Page.  It’s almost as exciting as figuring out how to spiral lace your Regency Stays…

…Regency fashion. The “Little White Dress” is going to get fancier as time moves forward.

…ask us to build you a costume for a “Jane Austen Festival”! Held annually in Australia, and Kentucky, re-enacters enjoy living history in bonnets and “Little White Dresses”. (photo: Jane Austen festival Kentucky and below: Australia).

… as figure shapers for those who were not naturally slim and waiflike as per the fashion plates. (photo:  gorgeous modern corded stays for Regency re-enactment)

…to wear the high-waisted Regency “Little White Dress”.  Stays (in the next century called “corsets”) were shorter than previous years, and had little structure. Older or larger women still wore the older styles. (photos: actual Regency stays now displayed in museums. Notice they have very little structure, but are more …