InsaneJournal

Regency Ramblings
There was an interesting programme on the telly last night about fashion through the ages, made in the '50s and narrated by a woman with a very plummy voice. It concentrated mainly on how impractical the clothing worn by the wealthy has generally been - the more high-maintenance/more movement is restricted signifying how little the wearer has to do. I had always thought the simple dresses worn in the Regency period gave a brief reprieve to women from strict corseting and voluminous skirts, but far from it. Apparently they didn't last half a day before needing washing and pressing. Fashionable women also wore muslin versions all year round - which must have been freezing in winter and, while I'd always associated them with revolution, that was far from the case. They fitted in with the fashion for classical architecture - so, as usual, women were merely ornamentation, flitting about in flimsy frocks to give the illusion of living goddesses within Greek temple inspired country houses. You learn something new every day, as they say.

I've also had this idea for a crack regency fic which is on a constant spool in my head at the moment. Put down that bunny, Mr Darcy, this instant.