Posted by CathyD on August 01, 1997 at 16:12:51:
In reply to Wedding dresses posted by Caroline on August 01, 1997 at 14:45:20
] The book "Fabric of Society"(in the bibliography)shows lots of details about Victorian weddings.
] One thing that struck me was that all the victorian wedding dresses are white, or very pale colours, but the Georgian ones aren't. There's a lovely yellow one, embroidered with pinkish flowers, and a glorious dark pink silk one too. There aren't any ones shown for the Regency.
]
] Dirdre Le Faye, in her "Jane Austen, a family record" (yes, it's in the you know what) says that Mrs Austen got married in a bright red wool riding habit (sounds fun, and to a clergyman too!)and that later it was cut up to make hunting coats for Jane's brothers. And whilst she was an unusual woman, I cannot imagine that she would do anything too unorthodox in that kind of situation.
] In P&P2, Lizzy, Jane and even Lydia get married in white. In S&S, Elinor and Marianne get married in white, with ordinary coats on top. Emma2's Emma gets married in white, I think (despite the shocking lack of satin ;-)) Do you think this is just conventional thinking that we assume wedding dresses were white in those days, or is there any evidence that the film makers were doing the right thing in putting the brides in white? Are they in white because white-based designs were in fashion, or was there a deep symbolism involved there? Since when did white equate with pure and virginal, anyway?
] Has anyone found a pic of a Regency wedding dress on the net?
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Her Royal Highness, The Princess Charlotte, got married in the following dress, according to La Belle Assemblee vol. 13, no. 84, p.224, May 1816
"Her dress was silver lama on net, over a silver tissue slip, embroidered at the bootom with silver lama in shells and flowers. Body and sleeves to correspond, elegantly trimmed with point Brussels lace. The manteau was of silver tissue lined with white satin, with a border of embroidery to answer that on the dress, and fastened in front with a splendid diamond ornament." I have a terrible photocopy of the plate of the dress I can scan in if you are desparate to see it for the Reg. fashion page.
CathyD
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