Why REGENCY is the best era for Beginner Costumers

I've been wanting to do this video for a while. If I could go back and give my younger-costumer-self advice, it would be to start in the Regency period. If you're new to historical costuming, Regency has a lot of advantages over other time periods. Save yourself some money, time, and headaches and start HERE.

I've also linked below lots of resources for patterns, accessories, supplies, and tutorials. IMAGE CREDITS are listed in the pinned comment because I can't fit them all in the description.

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Bonnets

Jewelry

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I may not always have time to respond to all comments but know that I do appreciate them!

[DixieDIY]

*** IMAGE CREDITS *** adding these here because there wasn't enough room in the description!
in order of appearance

Future project: coming soon!




















1817 portrait of Elizabeth "Betsy" Patterson Bonaparte by François-Joseph Kinson, Maryland Historical Museum in Baltimore Maryland












Fashion plates:

[kzisnbkosplay]

Regency is like a breath of calm in a sea of floof.

[pay]

Regency people really knew how to do comfort and style lol

[jlynn]

I bought a modern balconette bra and it comes REMARKABLY close to the look of Regency short stays. Under a dress you can't even tell!

[katherinemorelle]

I do have a regency project on my to do list- one inspired by La Pola, a Colombian seamstress and revolutionary. She was known for wearing black dresses, and navy blue spencers or scarfs, which I think is awesome, because I’m generally not into the white regency dress look.

But I will say that if you’re worried about your tummy, Regency is pretty good because it’s just not clingy there. And my “hack” for regency underwear is an under bust corset with a push up bra. Because I need a corset for back support anyway (and regency stays, even long ones, aren’t structured enough for me), but my goodness does that corset push my boobs up to my chin! Especially when I’m sitting down, and considering I’m a wheelchair user, I usually am. I actually have to avoid wearing that particular combination most of the time, because it makes my boobs look HUGE (and it’s not like they were small to begin with), and right up under my chin. I feel a bit like the prow of a boat. Not great for all styles, but definitely works for Regency!

That’s another benefit to regency actually- it’s a bit more accessible for those of us with wheelchairs. Because no way are panniers or crinolines fitting in my wheelchair. And while a bustle would fit, why would I bother? I normally just go straight for working class clothes, because I sew stuff mostly for history bounding anyway, and working class is easier to get away with. But if I do want a nice party dress, well the wheelchair can make that a bit more difficult. But not with regency! No need to change anything, which is awesome.

It’s not my favourite era in terms of style (that would be basically everything from the Victorian era), but it is accessible, both in terms of ease to start, and in terms of disability.

[habituscraeftig]

I am saving up for a fascinating book on Minoan clothing (complete with pragmatic information on making it), but it's only available for $700+, either because it's out of print or because they're assuming only libraries would buy it. And that's just so frustrating. Meanwhile, getting information on the dimensions of draped clothing, from Egyptian women's dress to Mayan men's loincloth is ... crickets. Saris are a modern garment, and I can still think of only one person (Chantal Boulanger) who has actually documented the diversity of drapes, rather than focusing on textiles. So even for your run-of-the-mill rectangle clothing, it's actually very hard to figure out where to find things, in the less 'popular' time periods (e.g., not Scottish, Greek, or Roman). Most ancient clothing, then, still remains startlingly inaccessible to beginners.

[blktauna]

First Rule of Regency, No one looks bad in Regency...

[sierralarars]

Guess I’m the odd one! I enjoy sewing all the underwear for some reason! The more tedious the better! hello fully boned 1740s stays. 9 mockups, 3 of them fully finished, for a 1886 corset? Yes please 😂
Got underwear for many eras coming out my ears but only 1 historical dress haha

Regency is rather intimidating for me, it seems alien compared to all the structure around it but hell yeah do I want a tartan Spenser!

[megananderson]

I've really wanted to make a Regency dress for a long time. This bumped me a little bit closer... Nice work

[polkadot]

Covid 19 has made me appreciate boxy style its comfortable and wfh friendly.

[alyssawesselmann]

Yes!! A regency dress was the first costume my younger sister managed to sew by herself when she was 14!

[jennyek]

This type of video was great, detailing what might be hard/easy for a beginner without being judgemental :) Would be great to see similar videos for other eras!

[rebekahslyter]

This video was perfect. I want to make everything. You should make videos for every era with all the recommended patterns and garment items. This was better than if I had spent weeks trying to find everything and then giving up!

[ClusterFrock]

Regency was one of the eras I started with, because in Ye Olden Days before historical costuming really caught on, it was easy enough to find high-waisted commercial patterns that could be fudged to look period-ish. It’s a great era to start in!
And thank you for the shoutout! 😃

[AJaneiteSews]

I just finished a video on sewing a Regency dress on my own channel and I LOVE Regency, not only the silhouette but also because I'm obsessed with Jane Austen's novels. Thanks for a fun video! I'm going to share it with friends thinking about getting into Regency costuming.

[VtorHunter]

Regency is in my 2021 plans and I am excited. For some reason I used to hate it, but now I am pretty into it.

[victoriakelly]

Definitely helps me as I start looking at historical costuming

[bohemiansusan]

I've a few Regency costume patterns but are mostly from the big four. Closest I've to sewing Regency is a retro bodice to a slightly below the knee length.

Most historical or period dressing I've done are Korean Haboks. Never use a Kdrama's costumes for reference as they aren't historically accurate.

[RedhairedBallerina]

I am a historical beginner and I did do a regency gown, but I will say - I tried the bra trick, but as an F cup, you can't ever pull them that high in a modern bra. That being said, a short corded stays (based on a free drafting online tutorial, only slightly lengthened) only took me an afternoon on a machine and the look (and support) was immediately better :)

[blowitoutyourcunt]

Y'all need to watch Spartacus, those Greco-Roman costuming the women wore were absolutely fabulous! Even the slave girls were deliciously costumed and the Domina ie head of the household costumes are something I still haven't figured out and really would love to, they were sumptuous! If those were all rectangles I would love to be able to know how to sew those rectangles, they were beautiful! Cheers doll!