Jane Austen (1775-1817) hardly needs an introduction; she is one of the most beloved and admired authors in the English language. The watercolor above right is by her sister Cassandra, and is believed to be of Jane. The portrait of Jane on the left is a 19th century painting based on a sketch by Cassandra.
Talk Like Jane Austen Day is October 30, so you can get double duty out of your Halloween costume. To dress like Jane Austen, you just need a Regency gown. And some sort of headcovering—her niece said she always wore a cap (presumably under her bonnet when she went outdoors).
If you can wait about two weeks for your dress, check out Wendy’s Doll Closet on eBay. This seller offers to make you a custom Regency gown for well under a hundred bucks—either cotton or satin, long sleeves or short, lined or unlined. (As always with custom work, familiarize yourself with the seller’s rules and realize that there are no returns.)
Another option is Littlehuggs Reenactment Costumes, which offers a custom-made Ladies Empire Regency Gown (scroll down to the middle of the page). You give them your bust measurements and they sew up the dress in about a week. There is one basic style for $110.95.
If you’re in a hurry, you can try an “Empress Josephine” costume like the one we list below. The pieces we suggest, from left to right:
1. “Empress” gown. This will work fine for Jane Austen.
2. A Jane Austen straw bonnet! You’ll need to dress it up with a pretty satin ribbon to match your dress.
3. And here’s the cap, which you can wear by itself or underneath the bonnet. This is a simple period cap in white, with a little frill to frame your face.
4. Single-strand faux pearl necklace. Regency pearls were simple and classic-looking. If you don’t already have a basic pearl/faux pearl necklace, this one will do.
5. Isotoner ivory satin ballet slippers. Regency shoes were extremely similar to ballet slippers; they even had ribbons. Modern Isotoners are an excellent substitute.
