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Jane Austen's Wardrobe
Hilary Davidson delves into the clothing of one of the world’s great authors, providing unique and intimate insight into her everyday life and material world
What did Jane Austen wear?
Acclaimed dress historian and Austen expert Hilary Davidson reveals, for the first time, the wardrobe of one of the world’s most celebrated authors. Despite her acknowledged brilliance on the page, Jane Austen has all too often been accused of dowdiness in her appearance. Drawing on Austen’s 161 known letters, as well as her own surviving garments and accessories, this book assembles examples of the variety of clothes she would have possessed—from gowns and coats to shoes and undergarments—to tell a very different story. The Jane Austen Hilary Davidson discovers is alert to fashion trends but thrifty and eager to reuse and repurpose clothing. Her renowned irony and wit peppers her letters, describing clothes, shopping, and taste. Jane Austen’s Wardrobe offers the rare pleasure of a glimpse inside the closet of a stylish dresser and perpetually fascinating writer.
What did Jane Austen wear?
Acclaimed dress historian and Austen expert Hilary Davidson reveals, for the first time, the wardrobe of one of the world’s most celebrated authors. Despite her acknowledged brilliance on the page, Jane Austen has all too often been accused of dowdiness in her appearance. Drawing on Austen’s 161 known letters, as well as her own surviving garments and accessories, this book assembles examples of the variety of clothes she would have possessed—from gowns and coats to shoes and undergarments—to tell a very different story. The Jane Austen Hilary Davidson discovers is alert to fashion trends but thrifty and eager to reuse and repurpose clothing. Her renowned irony and wit peppers her letters, describing clothes, shopping, and taste. Jane Austen’s Wardrobe offers the rare pleasure of a glimpse inside the closet of a stylish dresser and perpetually fascinating writer.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2023
28 people are currently reading
3506 people want to read
About the author
Hilary Davidson
3 books48 followersHilary Davidson is a dress, textiles and fashion historian and curator. Her work encompasses making and knowing, things and theory, with an extraordinary understanding of how historic clothing objects come to be and how they function in culture.
After dropping out of high school to pursue her interests through global travel, Hilary trained as a bespoke shoemaker in her native Australia before completing a Masters in the History of Textiles and Dress at Winchester School of Art (University of Southampton) in 2004. Since graduating, Hilary’s practice has concerned the relationship between theoretical and highly material approaches
to dress history, especially in the early modern and medieval periods. As a skilled and meticulous handsewer, she has created replica clothing projects for a number of museums, including a ground-breaking replication of Jane Austen’s pelisse.At the same time she lectured extensively on fashion history, theory and culture, on semiotics, and cultural mythologies, especially red shoes.
In 2007 Hilary became curator of fashion and decorative arts at the Museum of London. She contributed to the £20 million permanent gallery redevelopment opening in 2010, and curated an exhibition on pirates, while continuing to publish, teach and lecture in the UK and internationally. In collaboration with Museum of London Archaeology, Hilary began analysing archaeological textiles and continues to cross disciplines by consulting for in this area in England and Australia. She also worked on the AHRC 5-star rated Early Modern Dress and Textiles Network (2007-2009) and from 2011 has appeared as an expert on a number of BBC historical television programmes.
Since 2012 Hilary has worked between Sydney and London as a freelance curator, historian, broadcaster, teacher, lecturer, consultant and designer. In addition to historical studies she has been a jewellery designer, graphic designer, photographer, gallerist, and worked in retail fashion and vintage clothing. Current projects include Dress in the Age of Jane Austen (Yale, 2019), and completing a PhD by publication at La Trobe University, Melbourne, on knowledge making and materiality in pre-modern dress (2020).
Hilary has taught and lectured extensively, including at the University of Southampton, Central St Martins, the University of Cambridge, the University of Glasgow, New York University London, The American University Paris, Fashion Design Studio TAFE Sydney and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney. She speaks regularly at academic conferences and to the public.
Hilary is an Honorary Associate, School of Arts, Letters and Media, at the University of Sydney, a consultant in historic textiles for the Oxford English Dictionary, a Freeman of the City of London and member of the Company of Arts Scholars, Dealers and Collectors. As Hilary Gilmore, she is a published poet.
After dropping out of high school to pursue her interests through global travel, Hilary trained as a bespoke shoemaker in her native Australia before completing a Masters in the History of Textiles and Dress at Winchester School of Art (University of Southampton) in 2004. Since graduating, Hilary’s practice has concerned the relationship between theoretical and highly material approaches
to dress history, especially in the early modern and medieval periods. As a skilled and meticulous handsewer, she has created replica clothing projects for a number of museums, including a ground-breaking replication of Jane Austen’s pelisse.At the same time she lectured extensively on fashion history, theory and culture, on semiotics, and cultural mythologies, especially red shoes.
In 2007 Hilary became curator of fashion and decorative arts at the Museum of London. She contributed to the £20 million permanent gallery redevelopment opening in 2010, and curated an exhibition on pirates, while continuing to publish, teach and lecture in the UK and internationally. In collaboration with Museum of London Archaeology, Hilary began analysing archaeological textiles and continues to cross disciplines by consulting for in this area in England and Australia. She also worked on the AHRC 5-star rated Early Modern Dress and Textiles Network (2007-2009) and from 2011 has appeared as an expert on a number of BBC historical television programmes.
Since 2012 Hilary has worked between Sydney and London as a freelance curator, historian, broadcaster, teacher, lecturer, consultant and designer. In addition to historical studies she has been a jewellery designer, graphic designer, photographer, gallerist, and worked in retail fashion and vintage clothing. Current projects include Dress in the Age of Jane Austen (Yale, 2019), and completing a PhD by publication at La Trobe University, Melbourne, on knowledge making and materiality in pre-modern dress (2020).
Hilary has taught and lectured extensively, including at the University of Southampton, Central St Martins, the University of Cambridge, the University of Glasgow, New York University London, The American University Paris, Fashion Design Studio TAFE Sydney and the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney. She speaks regularly at academic conferences and to the public.
Hilary is an Honorary Associate, School of Arts, Letters and Media, at the University of Sydney, a consultant in historic textiles for the Oxford English Dictionary, a Freeman of the City of London and member of the Company of Arts Scholars, Dealers and Collectors. As Hilary Gilmore, she is a published poet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 27, 2023
Beautifully illustrated and wonderfully thorough, this was a delightful exploration of what Austen might have meant by various references in her letters to everything from gloves to nightcaps to gowns. Certainly it will help me describe my characters' dress and habits in greater detail.
One fun tidbit, the Reform Club in London, from the steps of which my husband and I were shooed away, used to be Crook and Besford, haberdashers and hosiers, where Austen paid six shillings for a white silk handkerchief!
One fun tidbit, the Reform Club in London, from the steps of which my husband and I were shooed away, used to be Crook and Besford, haberdashers and hosiers, where Austen paid six shillings for a white silk handkerchief!
May 29, 2025
This is another wonderful volume from Hilary Davidson. Less academic than Dress in the Age of Jane Austen: Regency Fashion and more focused, this book takes a look at Jane Austen's known wardrobe items. The chapters are divided by type of wardrobe piece including accessories, shoes, stockings and bed clothes. Each chapter begins with a quote from one of Austen's surviving letters to her sister. Davidson defines and explains the context behind each item like when and where it would have been purchased, who it was purchased from if known, and how it would have been worn. If you're a Georgette Heyer devotee and ever wondered what all those fashions looked like and what a tippet is, look no further than this book. Beautifully illustrated with full color photos and fashion plates, plus photos of Davidson's recreation of Jane Austen's pelisse and gowns in private collections, this book has plenty of eye candy. It's worth the price of the book for the photos alone.
In the back of the book there's a glossary that defines all those types of textiles. Muslin came in various thicknesses and wasn't just the sheer white we think of today when we hear Regency muslin dress. There's also an extensive list of recommended reading!
I learned a lot from this book and really enjoyed the photos and illustrations. I just wish I could FEEL some of the fabrics. I'm in love with sarsnet (twilled silk) and India mul and block printed cottons and oh gosh don't you wish for a time machine to go shopping with Jane? She did love fashion and enjoyed spending her royalty checks on new clothes.
In the back of the book there's a glossary that defines all those types of textiles. Muslin came in various thicknesses and wasn't just the sheer white we think of today when we hear Regency muslin dress. There's also an extensive list of recommended reading!
I learned a lot from this book and really enjoyed the photos and illustrations. I just wish I could FEEL some of the fabrics. I'm in love with sarsnet (twilled silk) and India mul and block printed cottons and oh gosh don't you wish for a time machine to go shopping with Jane? She did love fashion and enjoyed spending her royalty checks on new clothes.
June 18, 2024
What did Jane wear?
Dr. Hilary Davidson, one of the world's most respected dress and textile historian/curators, has written THE book on this fascinating topic.
Beautifully designed and written, rich with stunning illustrations, photos, and historical insight, JANE AUSTEN'S WARDROBE is a must-have for every Janeite and the perfect gift for every Austen lover in your life.
Drawing upon 161 letters Jane wrote to her sister Cassandra, and her clothes and accessories still extant, Dr. Davidson reveals so much more than I'd known before about Jane, her daily life, and her keen interest in fashion despite her family's lean budget.
The book is divided into sections revealing the types of clothes the beloved author might have worn. I read these chapters hungrily, delighted by the color plates and illustrations, and by the hues and styles of gowns and shoes and fabrics that had me dreaming of Regency life.
And when Jane finally comes into some money of her own after publishing Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, what does she want to do? Goes shopping!
Some things never change.
Huge thanks to author Hilary Davidson and Yale University Press for the gorgeous hardcover review copy. Opinions are mine.
Dr. Hilary Davidson, one of the world's most respected dress and textile historian/curators, has written THE book on this fascinating topic.
Beautifully designed and written, rich with stunning illustrations, photos, and historical insight, JANE AUSTEN'S WARDROBE is a must-have for every Janeite and the perfect gift for every Austen lover in your life.
Drawing upon 161 letters Jane wrote to her sister Cassandra, and her clothes and accessories still extant, Dr. Davidson reveals so much more than I'd known before about Jane, her daily life, and her keen interest in fashion despite her family's lean budget.
The book is divided into sections revealing the types of clothes the beloved author might have worn. I read these chapters hungrily, delighted by the color plates and illustrations, and by the hues and styles of gowns and shoes and fabrics that had me dreaming of Regency life.
And when Jane finally comes into some money of her own after publishing Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, what does she want to do? Goes shopping!
Some things never change.
Huge thanks to author Hilary Davidson and Yale University Press for the gorgeous hardcover review copy. Opinions are mine.
December 27, 2023
A lovely Christmas present for this Austen fan. A splendid pictorial of garments interspersed with text from Jane’s letters or books about the clothes she wore, with historical facts woven (!) in.
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December 12, 2023In her fiction, Jane Austen rarely made use of descriptions of clothing. The contemporary reader was assumed to understand exactly what her characters ought to be wearing and how much clothing they would possess: the difference between the wardrobes of the wealthy Emma Woodhouse and the poor Jane Fairfax could be easily imagined, and it would be obvious what sort of (and how few) gowns Fanny Price would have had as the overlooked ward of a baronet in Mansfield Park. Modern readers require assistance to understand exactly what clothing meant to Austen’s contemporaries, and to the author herself.
Jane Austen’s Wardrobe seeks to provide the context that more than two centuries of changes in fashion have obscured. As a detailed examination of every item of clothing Austen mentioned in her copious letters, in addition to the rather scantier surviving pieces of clothing known to have been hers and the items worn in the only two known portraits of the author (both by her sister, Cassandra), it provides as close to a comprehensive look at her wardrobe as is possible. Prior to the emergence of the regular magazine as a means of disseminating new fashions, it can be difficult to pinpoint changing trends with accuracy. Even after the fashion periodical’s rise in the late 18th century, the specifics of an ordinary person’s wardrobe at any point in time can be shrouded in mystery. While Davidson cannot tell us when Austen got rid of this or that accessory or piece of clothing, her book provides significantly more detail than is generally known about any individual wardrobe.
Each garment Davidson has identified is given its own entry with a description and the date it was acquired. Images are naturally a problem, but Davidson has found pictures of similar garments or textiles – whether in extant pieces, paintings or fashion plates – which help the reader. Clothing can reveal biography as well as taste: a ‘bugle bead headdress’, for instance, mentioned by Austen in a letter of 30 April 1811, confirms her attendance at a party held by her brother’s wife on the 23rd of that month. In a letter dated 14-15 October 1813, Austen describes a blue gown with flounces (a piece of fabric sewn into folds and sewn to a garment). Later correspondence is quoted to show Austen’s knowledge of trends relating to flounces, as well as an 1807 letter describing ‘five breadths of Linen’ going into a flounce.
Read the rest of the review at HistoryToday.com
Cassidy Percoco is the author of Regency Women’s Dress: Techniques and Patterns, 1800-1830 (Silman-James Press, 2015).
Jane Austen’s Wardrobe seeks to provide the context that more than two centuries of changes in fashion have obscured. As a detailed examination of every item of clothing Austen mentioned in her copious letters, in addition to the rather scantier surviving pieces of clothing known to have been hers and the items worn in the only two known portraits of the author (both by her sister, Cassandra), it provides as close to a comprehensive look at her wardrobe as is possible. Prior to the emergence of the regular magazine as a means of disseminating new fashions, it can be difficult to pinpoint changing trends with accuracy. Even after the fashion periodical’s rise in the late 18th century, the specifics of an ordinary person’s wardrobe at any point in time can be shrouded in mystery. While Davidson cannot tell us when Austen got rid of this or that accessory or piece of clothing, her book provides significantly more detail than is generally known about any individual wardrobe.
Each garment Davidson has identified is given its own entry with a description and the date it was acquired. Images are naturally a problem, but Davidson has found pictures of similar garments or textiles – whether in extant pieces, paintings or fashion plates – which help the reader. Clothing can reveal biography as well as taste: a ‘bugle bead headdress’, for instance, mentioned by Austen in a letter of 30 April 1811, confirms her attendance at a party held by her brother’s wife on the 23rd of that month. In a letter dated 14-15 October 1813, Austen describes a blue gown with flounces (a piece of fabric sewn into folds and sewn to a garment). Later correspondence is quoted to show Austen’s knowledge of trends relating to flounces, as well as an 1807 letter describing ‘five breadths of Linen’ going into a flounce.
Read the rest of the review at HistoryToday.com
Cassidy Percoco is the author of Regency Women’s Dress: Techniques and Patterns, 1800-1830 (Silman-James Press, 2015).
August 1, 2025
I savored this exquisite book for 6 months, reading its little chapters in detail and imagining how Austen felt when she described wearing her various clothing pieces.
Hilary Davidson is THE Austen fashion historian! You are in safe and wonderfully geeky hands when reading any of her carefully constructed books. She’s also a seamstress and that yields even more special insights into her discoveries. First rate!
A tip of a lace trimmed bonnet to her.
Hilary Davidson is THE Austen fashion historian! You are in safe and wonderfully geeky hands when reading any of her carefully constructed books. She’s also a seamstress and that yields even more special insights into her discoveries. First rate!
A tip of a lace trimmed bonnet to her.
September 27, 2024
Fascinating and beautiful book. The author goes through as many references to clothing and accessories as she can find in the letters and a few from the novels, adds copious illustrations from fashion plates and extant period garments, then explains and explores what Austen had and meant, and what they might have meant to her. Just gorgeous.
February 18, 2025
"Jane Austen's Wardrobe" is such a beautiful book! It uses excerpts from Austen's letters to speculate on what her wardrobe looked like. It's well researched, and there are plenty of pictures. The only downside is that, like most things covering Austen's life, it's full of speculation. But it's a great way to learn about regency fashion while thinking about the life of Jane Austen.
December 4, 2024
Loads of pictures to admire and scrutinise for ideas for costume making. I liked that the clothing was organised into sections and linked to letters from Jane Austen and her family.
November 12, 2025
⭐️=5
thoughts: devoured this in a serious way!! a very specific and very iconic niche that i fear is perfect for me <3
thoughts: devoured this in a serious way!! a very specific and very iconic niche that i fear is perfect for me <3
August 18, 2024
This is a beautiful book. Great photos and history of the garments Jane Austen mentions in her letters. Examples are shown of advertisements and actual garments from the period, even Jane's own where they have them. I lingered over this book and enjoyed every page.
February 5, 2024
This book has a dazzling array of full-color fashion plates from period ladies’ magazines, portraits of women of the era, photographs of Regency fashion from museums and private collections, and images of Davidson’s own recreation of Austen’s brown silk pelisse. The chapters are arranged logically, taking us through categories of clothing that would have been in Austen’s wardrobe. Each of the categories has several examples—crowned with pertinent quote from Austen’s letters. Davidson goes on to place each item in context to events in Austen’s life, or the fabric, or design.
Exploring Austen’s fascination for finery—what she wore, talked about, and admired is a heady experience, not only for those who study Regency fashion, but for those who want an insider’s view of how Austen’s personality is revealed through her choice of clothing. I love looking at a fine spotted muslin frock or a beautifully trimmed bonnet as much as the next Regency fan, but the insights into Austen’s life that Davidson has revealed is what fascinated me. Jane Austen's Wardrobe is truly a treasure to covet and enjoy.
Exploring Austen’s fascination for finery—what she wore, talked about, and admired is a heady experience, not only for those who study Regency fashion, but for those who want an insider’s view of how Austen’s personality is revealed through her choice of clothing. I love looking at a fine spotted muslin frock or a beautifully trimmed bonnet as much as the next Regency fan, but the insights into Austen’s life that Davidson has revealed is what fascinated me. Jane Austen's Wardrobe is truly a treasure to covet and enjoy.
December 13, 2023
Really excellent!
This is a great book for Austen fans and also for anyone who's interested in clothing from the Regency era. I took up English country dance and finding information about clothing, shoes and jewelry isn't very easy.
I loved seeing the examples of historic clothing and oohed and ahhhed over the bits of Jane Austen's remaining possessions.
But damn Cassandra for not drawing a better portrait or second portrait of Jane's face and burning her letters! Poor Jane looks so peevish in the one verified portrait drawn by Cassandra--there are several other possible portraits of her...oh why oh why could Cassandra not have given us at least a profile of Jane in that portrait of her from the back?
But...such a LOVELY book. Really a keeper!
This is a great book for Austen fans and also for anyone who's interested in clothing from the Regency era. I took up English country dance and finding information about clothing, shoes and jewelry isn't very easy.
I loved seeing the examples of historic clothing and oohed and ahhhed over the bits of Jane Austen's remaining possessions.
But damn Cassandra for not drawing a better portrait or second portrait of Jane's face and burning her letters! Poor Jane looks so peevish in the one verified portrait drawn by Cassandra--there are several other possible portraits of her...oh why oh why could Cassandra not have given us at least a profile of Jane in that portrait of her from the back?
But...such a LOVELY book. Really a keeper!
December 28, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book very much. The photos are excellent combined with the text to show examples of what the clothes look like. Hilary Davidson includes many letters than Jane Austen wrote about some of the items of clothing either she or her sister Cassandra wore. As a person who isn't very interested in fashion, I found this book fascinating. The details that Davidson provides about what Jane Austen wore is excellent. I was fortunate enough to attend the JASNA conference in Cleveland this year. Davidson gave an excellent talk on the clothing Jane Austen wore. I was also able to have her sign my copy of this book. If you are a fan of Jane Austen, I highly recommend reading this book.
December 7, 2023
What a wonderful book. Using the relatively few remaining letters of Jane Austen, the author has come up with an excellent description of what Jane probably wore during her life. This is one book I wanted to read in print vs. an ebook because the illustrations are amazing and include the only two pieces of clothing that are believed to have belonged to Jane Austen. I have read Regency novels and Regency histories and thought I was somewhat schooled in what people wore (at least the gentry and above people) but I found out several times that I was incorrect and it was good to find out what some of the descriptions actually meant.
May 31, 2024
This is an amazing book for historical fashion researchers and Austen-fans alike, it really finds the perfect middle-ground between academic writing and entertaining read for hobbyists.
The book follows Jane Austens letters and explains her sartorial choices, adds information from family accounts, puts sources into perspective and explains the clothes, accessories and the terminology for a modern reader.
I thought I was prett well-versed in regency fashion, but there was a wealth of information I hadn't ever come across before. Love it!
The book follows Jane Austens letters and explains her sartorial choices, adds information from family accounts, puts sources into perspective and explains the clothes, accessories and the terminology for a modern reader.
I thought I was prett well-versed in regency fashion, but there was a wealth of information I hadn't ever come across before. Love it!
December 20, 2023
THIS is how you do academic research on a niche subject for a wider audience - immensely interesting for both the Austen lover and for anyone seeking practical details about Regency clothing, generously equipped with smartly curated illustrations, carefully measured so that the academic habit to inundate the author with too much detail never manifests, written in a light and at times genuinely funny style, and full of love and respect for Austen the human behind all these clothes.
August 14, 2024
Jane Austen's Wardrobe, Davidson parses Austen's letters and reveals a colorful history of what Jane wore. It is amazing to discover how often Austen wrote about wardrobe items!
The book is organized by type of clothing. A dated excerpt from Austen's letter s is quoted followed with a full description of the wardrobe item, along with photographs and illustrations.
I enjoyed this beautiful book that brought Jane Austen to life.
The book is organized by type of clothing. A dated excerpt from Austen's letter s is quoted followed with a full description of the wardrobe item, along with photographs and illustrations.
I enjoyed this beautiful book that brought Jane Austen to life.
May 14, 2024
This is a beautiful book that includes snippets from Austen’s letters, descriptions of clothing items, and pictures of what her clothing might have looked like. Sometimes it’s a little technical or dry (“Sarcenet…was a common kind of silk textile, often in a twill weave”) but the illustrations and insight into dress of the early 1800’s are fascinating. Read in small doses, it’s delightful.
June 9, 2024
Hilary Davidson is a master of detail. Nothing escapes her notice - in Jane Austen’s dress or milieu. A gem of a book. More approachable than her, “Dress in the Age of Jane Austen.” A book you can dip into or ingest from beginning to end in one sitting - a treasure trove of delightful details in letters and illustrations.
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August 18, 2024"No lace. No lace, Mrs. Bennett, I beg you!" If you share Mr. Bennett's opinion of wardrobe then this book is not for you. Well researched book. Perfect combination of Regency dress, Jane Austen, and tailoring tidbits.
December 9, 2023
This book is gorgeous. The dresses, jewelry, and accessories shown are so lovely! What a beautiful book.
January 2, 2024
What a beautifully illustrated book. Absolutely wonderful book for any Jane Austen fan.
May 18, 2024
A detailed and quite technical account for Jane Austen lovers and fashion history enthusiasts. Beautifully illustrated. The print is on the smaller side, so read in good light.
September 30, 2024
The most comprehensive book on Jane Austen's clothing I've ever read.
January 10, 2025
Very interesting! Format was great to pick up and read any time. I learned so much about her fashion. It was fabulous to see parts of her letters and then the corresponding potential pieces.
March 20, 2025
This book just got me so pumped to go to Chawton, now that I can further appreciate some of the things I'll find there!
October 10, 2025
Wonderful if you are interested this aspect of Austenalia….
October 24, 2025
This is a fun quick read to dabble in; well-researched even if Davidson has little to go on in Austen’s letters. Great images of extant garments and clear descriptions of fabrics and techniques.
December 31, 2025
I loved this resource and found it much easier to read then her other book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews