Dress Me Jane Austen: Regency Era Fashion Style

by Alaya Aifel

Ever wonder what Elizabeth Bennet wore while stealing Mr. Darcy’s heart? Or how Emma Woodhouse’s outfits matched her flair for matchmaking? In Dress Me Jane Regency Era Fashion Style, we take a peek into the closets of Austen’s heroines—and a few others from the era—to uncover the secrets of their style.

From clever quotes you might have missed to surprising details about who wore what (and why), this book blends wit, charm, and a love of fashion to bring Regency wardrobes to life. Whether it’s Emma’s flowing gowns or a dandy’s perfectly tied cravat, you’ll find inspiration in every page. It’s time to dress the part of your favorite literary icons, one empire waist at a time!

132 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2025

Reviews

[Lena Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever wonder what your favorite characters are wearing as you are reading, Jane Austin. Well you don't have to guess anymore because this book has it covered. What type of outfit is required for each type of event i.e. walking dress, promenade dress, morning dress, ball gown. There are examples via tin types, and illustrations of them. How fashion changed overtime, no more powdered hair, white faces, full skirts.

There's a whole section given to men and their dress.

If you love history, fashion and books this book is for you.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Annette Megaughin-Helder · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you, like me, not only watch Pride & Prejudice (1995 version obvs. Duh!) and Emma for the swoonworthy men and blushing ladies but also for those impossibly beautiful dresses (and Mr. Darcy’s wet shirt), you will love this book!

Dress Me Jane Austen deconstructs what they wore, when they wore it, and why they wore it. Which could be quite dull, but isn’t at all when combined with quotes from the books of that time (Jane Eyre, Austen’s works etc) to illustrate the theory.

Speaking of illustrate, the book has loads of gorgeous fashion plates, engravings and paintings to go with the text.

Every clothing and accessory item is discussed, from undies, million and one different kind of dresses a lady was supposed to own, to jewellery, hats and shoes.

And the men’s fashion gets its own section, so the next time you are ogling Anthony, Colin or Benedict B, you can check for historical accuracy. Brilliant!

I loved this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Lin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting and informative read.

I really enjoyed the artworks included to help with the visualisation of what women had to wear throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. A piece of history, a piece of art in itself, those dresses were definitely something and certainly not everyone could afford but as Aifel mentions, only "women of means" could afford to have enough dresses for all the occasions they were supposed to go to and not only. The fashion they had to follow with accessories, make-up and whatnot. We women have endured a lot over the centuries, and high fashion back then was without a doubt a lot! Being forced by society to wear uncomfortable, revealing and unflattering attire is something that hopefully we will never have to experience again.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book will be really helpful when I pick up my classics and try to envision what our FMC wore back then, contributing to a more immersive and comprehensive reading experience.

The writing style reads as an essay with citations of various fashion books and classics of the respectable time period and art references.

Overall, a solid 4-star read for me, which I do recommend if you are interested in how women's fashion progressed over those centuries.

[PH · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful and relaxing journey to walk through the fashion of the Regency era.
“Life wasn’t as leisurely as it appeared—idleness, after all, was a full-time job.” (quoted~CP4)

The language is easy and well-versed which makes the reading so enjoyable. Knowledge gained without too much effort as a reader, thanks to the diligent research and thoughtful word-plotting and paragraph-arranging of the author. The pictures are candy to the eye and serve as a strong support to the subject mentioned.

Not too much was linked to Jane Austen’s work or daily life as expected as suggested by the title, yet the charm diminished not one bit.

[A Bookworm In Chile · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short read, but an undeniably fun one. Chocked full of interesting facts about fashion history and well written, it was no challenge to quickly make my way through it in one setting. I particularly liked the choice of framing the narrative as we were going for a walk in the days of Jane Austen. That said, I (and this is very personal choice) would have liked more detail. This is a lot of history to fit in 130 pages. It could have easily been spread out a bit. There are also a fair few portraits included to illustrate the fashions described, why not tell a bit about the people seen within. Finally, a sources cited page might also be a welcome addition.

[Linda K Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the history of clothing and accessories. It was entertaining and well illustrated. Loved all the details, down to pockets, underwear, pelisses, petticoats and slippers. Covers men's wear as well. With such an understanding we can compare if movies are true to their era.

Also makes me grateful again, to be in my time and not have to dress that way, although I probably would have been a servant.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jen B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who knew a toque was worn inside back then!? How Canadian of them ;) This was very interesting. Some things I had gleaned from reading Regency era novels, but some was novel. I can't attest to the historical accuracy of the information provided here - but nothing contradicted what I've read about in fiction (that wasn't obviously anachronistic).

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and easy read that guides the reader through the ever changing fashion styles and what rules a respectable person must follow if they wish to make it in Regency England's society.

It is well researched and the pictures included perfectly highlight what the author is explaining to the reader.

Thank you to BookSirens and Alaya Aifel for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books on Regency fashion I have read. The tone is conversational and includes a multitude of illustrations and excerpts from Jane Austen's letters and novels. It is an excellent reference book that is as entertaining as it is informative. I will refer to this book many times, I'm sure.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun book. The chatty narrative style made it a quick and fun. It was like walking through fashion history with an enthusiastic guide. I loved the addition of the beautiful pictures to illustrate the fashion. It was a beautiful leisure time for me.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Roberta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in 2008

[Angie Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. I liked looking at all the fashion. A good book to have. I was given an arc and i choose to give a honest review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely read about what people used to wear in the classic books we read. Full of interesting ideas
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a great read