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1820 ca. Military Style Silk Spencer With Braiding In the Style of the Bridgertons and Jane Austen. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #BritishHistory

September 19, 2026
1820 ca. Spencer, British. Silk and willow. Collage View. Spencers were short jackets cut to match the high waistlines of Empire dresses. They often copied military styling, such as braiding, shoulder decoration, buttons and loop fasteners, and wrist adornments. They were generally of complex construction, often with a diamond shaped piece in the back. Credit Line:Catharine Breyer Van Bomel Foundation Fund, 1987 via Metropolitan Museum New York City, U.S.A. metmuseum.org

1820 ca. Silk Spencer, British. Made of silk and willow. Short length, long sleeves, extensive decoration on shoulders, sleeves and wrists. Military style braiding on the spencer in support of all the soldiers fighting wars across the world. The sort of jacket worn by fashionable Regency ladies over their light and flowing Empire dresses. Credit Line:Catharine Breyer Van Bomel Foundation Fund, 1987 via Metropolitan Museum New York City, U.S.A. metmuseum.org

Definition Spencer: Short jackets cut to match the high waistlines of Empire dresses. They often copied military styling, such as braiding, shoulder decoration, buttons and loop fasteners, and wrist adornments. They were generally of complex construction, often with a diamond shaped piece in the back. Said to have originated in an accident to Lord Spencer while hunting when his coat tails were torn off and he wore it as a short jacket. 

HN_4_Spencers, Or Jackets. #Regency #Georgian #Victorian #Fashion History Notes Book 4 By Suzi Love.
HN_4_Spencers, Or Jackets. #Regency #Georgian #Victorian #Fashion History Notes Book 4 By Suzi Love.

1816 Inside A Dining Room By Martin Drolling. Bridgerton and Jane Austen household. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #Wikimedia #Art #RegencyEra

September 18, 2026

1816 Inside A Dining Room By Martin Drolling. Bridgerton and Jane Austen household. Via Wikimedia Commons commons.wikimedia.org (PD-ART)

1816 Inside a dining room by Martin Drolling. Via Wikimedia Commons commons.wikimedia.org (PD-ART)

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What was fashionable for outer wear in Bridgerton and Jane Austen’s times? Spencers, short jackets, or Regency jackets. #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion #FashionHistory #GeorgianHistory

September 18, 2026

Spencers Or Regency Jackets By Suzi Love. History Notes Book 4. What was fashionable for outer wear in past centuries? Call them what you like: Spencers, short jackets, or Regency jackets were very popular. Take a look at the jackets being worn by women in the early 1800s or the times of Jane Austen. books2read.com/suziloveSpencers

  • Definition: Spencer – Short, bodice hugging, usually long sleeved, outer jacket. For warmth and for fashion.
  • Definition Caroline Spencer: Worn during the Directoire and First Empire (1790-1815 C.E.). Spencer with pelerine cape that was made of white kerseymere and trimmed with light blue satin cut on bias.
  • Spencers were short jackets cut to match the high waistlines of Empire dresses. They often copied military styling, such as braiding, shoulder decoration, buttons and loop fasteners, and wrist adornments. They were generally of complex construction, often with a diamond shaped piece in the back.
HN 4 Spencers Or Regency Jackets By @suzilove History Notes Book 4 #Regency #Fashion #History Take a look at jackets worn by women in early 1800s. books2read.com/suziloveSpencers
HN 4 Spencers Or Regency Jackets By @suzilove History Notes Book 4 #Regency #Fashion #History Take a look at jackets worn by women in early 1800s. books2read.com/suziloveSpencers
 HN_4_Spencers, Or Jackets. #Regency #Georgian #Victorian #Fashion History Notes Book 4 By Suzi Love.books2read.com/suziloveSpencers
HN_4_Spencers, Or Jackets. Spencers Or Regency Jackets History Notes Book 4 By Suzi Love. books2read.com/suziloveSpencers

Pearl Necklaces – Terminology

September 18, 2026

Now who doesn’t like pearls? Nobody!

       So here’s your chance to learn more about Pearl Necklaces and their terminology,

           Suzi

Choker: 14″-15″ in length – should nestle around the base of the neck.

Princess: 18″ in length – should fall halfway between choker and matinee length.

Matinee: 22″-23″ in length – should fall to the top of the cleavage.

Opera: 30″-36″ in length – should fall to the breastbone.

Sautoir or Rope: Any pearl necklace longer than opera length.

Dog Collar: Multiple strands of pearls fitting closely around the neck.

Bib: Multiple strands of pearls, each shorter than the one below, nested together in one necklace.

Graduated: A necklace composed of pearls which taper downward in size from large pearls in the center.

Uniform: A necklace which appears to be composed entirely of pearls of the same size.

1800 Young Dandy’s Morning Outfit Of Brown Double-Breasted Cutaway Coat and Striped Pants, French. #JaneAusten #RegencyEra #Men #Fashion

September 17, 2026

1800 Young Dandy’s Morning Outfit, French. Brown, doublebreated, cutaway coat, striped trousers tucked into high black boots with tassels, gloves, small jaunty hat and a walking stick. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.

Dandy: The author of The Hermit in London, a series of sketches published in 1819—1820 observed: ‘A distinguished Exquisite is padded all over to-day; and all the other foplings are, on the morrow, mere walking pin-cushions. A fat prince, or a fat dandy, requires confinement in his limbs; and all his subjects are immediately restrained within the same limits. One day, the back is to be as broad as an Irish chairman’s, and the shoulders to be bolstered up to imitate a hod-man; and the next, the shoulders are to be flat, and a man is to be pinched in and laced up until he resembles an earwig. All these are Master Snip’s maneuvers, who continues to make his bill equally long, whether the spencer or the box-coat be in vogue.

1800 Young Dandy's Morning Outfit, French. Brown, doublebreated, cutaway coat, striped trousers tucked into high black boots with tassels, gloves, small jaunty hat and a walking stick. Fashion Plate via Journal des Dames et des Modes, or Costume Parisien.

HN_23_D2D_Fashion Men 1800-1819 History Notes Book 23 https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionMen1800-1819

1816 October Aqua blue Pelisse and matching hat from Jane Austen and Bridgerton years. #janeausten #bridgerton #regencyfashion

September 17, 2026

1816 October. Pelisse, English. White walking dress with wide lace hem trim worn under an aqua blue pelisse lined with spotted fur, aqua slippers, yellow slippers, white bonnet with high white plumes and aqua blue bows. Fashion Plate via Lady’s Magazine.

During the early 1800s, dress fabrics and dresses were thin, sometimes almost transparent. These lightweight white cotton dresses were fashionable in Jane Austen’s times, but they were certainly not warm when a lady was out walking or when riding in a carriage. Numerous outer layers could be added for warmth and to brighten and personalize an outfit. These might be an overdress, pelisse or redingote, hat, shawl, gloves, or large fur muff.

A typical outdoor outfit worn by the Bridgerton family, or Jane Austen and her contemporaries, when going outside consisted of an Empire style, or high-waisted, white cotton dress worn under a Pelisse, or Redingote, or coat, for warmth and with an added layer with the pretty shawl. Hats were made to match gowns and cloaks and fashionable women spent an extraordinary amount of time coordinating complete ensembles which included reticules or bags, shoes, shawls, gloves, hats, parasols, and fans. Typical Empire style dresses had low necklines and with skirts that started directly under the bust and flowed into the classical relaxed wide styles of Greece and Rome. These were worn most days and cotton, silk or taffeta were the popular fabrics.

Definition Redingote Or Pelisse Or Walking Dress Or Coat: French word developed from English words, riding coat. Long fitted outdoor coat worn over other garments for warmth. Originally made with several capes and trimmed with large buttons. For women, the coat was often cut away in the front or left open to show off the dress underneath. French fashion plates call these coats Redingotes and they were worn by men, women, and children. English fashion plates call the coats a Pelisse, a walking dress, Promenade dress, or Carriage dress.

1816 October. Pelisse, English. White walking dress with wide lace hem trim worn under an aqua blue pelisse lined with spotted fur, aqua slippers, yellow slippers, white bonnet with high white plumes and aqua blue bows. Fashion Plate via Lady's Magazine.
1816 October. Pelisse, English. White walking dress with wide lace hem trim worn under an aqua blue pelisse lined with spotted fur, aqua slippers, yellow slippers, white bonnet with high white plumes and aqua blue bows. Fashion Plate via Lady’s Magazine.

Who loves Bridgerton and Jane Austen Women’s Fashions? Everyone? Of course we do! #Bridgerton #JaneAusten #RegencyFashion https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1815-1819

HN_28_D2D_FashionWomen 1815-1819
https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1815-1819

1810 ca. Muslin Bodiced Petticoat With Sleeves, British. #RegencyFashion #JaneAusten #underclothing

September 16, 2026

1810 ca. Muslin, or Cotton, Bodiced Petticoat With Sleeves, British.The sort of petticoat Jane Austen wore beneath her dresses, for both modesty and warmth. via Killerton House. National Trust, U.K. nationaltrustcollections.org.uk

In Jane Austen’s years of the early nineteenth century, women often wore light-weight dresses under which was worn a range of underclothing to stop gowns appearing transparent and sticking to a lady’s body. To preserve modesty, underclothing included a chemise next to the skin, then a corset, and then petticoats to give shape to a dress and to keep it away from her body.

https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashion1810-1814

1810 ca. Muslin, or Cotton, Bodiced Petticoat With sleeves, British. via Killerton House. National Trust, U.K. nationaltrustcollections.org.uk
1810 ca. Muslin, or Cotton, Bodiced Petticoat With sleeves, British. via Killerton House. National Trust, U.K. nationaltrustcollections.org.uk

1790-1810 ca. White Linen Shift Or Chemise, American. #Regency #1810 ca. Muslin Bodiced Petticoat With Sleeves, British. #Regency #JaneAusten #underclothing. https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashion1810-1814

HN_27_D2D_FashWomen1810-1814
https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashion1810-1814
27_D2D_FashWomen1810-1814 https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashion1810-1814

Book Hooks: Petunia and the Pearl Diver. Miss I’m-Afraid-of-My-Own-Shadow would waste his time. #Regencyromance #historicalromance #London #mfrw

September 16, 2026

Petunia and the Pearl Diver: A hot Regency romance. Petunia needs money to save her aristocratic family. The pearl diver needs a woman to save him, body and soul. Their night together at a London brothel could solve both problems. But can their relationship survive in the real world?Because walking away becomes impossible when one night leaves them craving more…and more.

Book Hook: The pearl diver looked at the fidgeting Mistress. When she’d first come into the room he’d thought…no fucking chance. Miss I’m-Afraid-of-My-Own-Shadow would waste his time and his money. However, he’d underestimated the sheer brazen determination of the woman, because she was still in this room with him, when he’d have bet another strand of pearls that she’d have turned tail and run in the first three minutes. Hell, the other two girls were seasoned prostitutes and they’d run after getting no reaction from him, due to equal parts of disbelief, frustration, and his howling anger.

“What’s your name?” He didn’t expect an answer, but he’d startled her into a response.

“Petunia.”

She looked more shocked than he was that she’d blurted out what he assumed was her real name. Street walkers, even high class ones, used stage names. The two girls before had called themselves Strawberry and Plum.

She seemed horrified, perhaps even terrified, over her mistake, which made him wonder what the hell she was hiding. If she was employed here, she’d have called herself…another fruit? Pineapple, or lemon? Her expression was sour enough to have sucked lemons.

“John.” She waved at guard number one, the big man with an obvious liking for male physiques. “Turn him over.”

The pearl diver glared at the guard, but they tossed him to his stomach as if he was a lump of meat thrown into a frying pan. “Shit.” He kicked backwards, but missed. The whip cracked near his bare backside and he yelled. “Holy mother of God.” He tried to look at his backside to see if it was marked.

“I’m your mistress, so you don’t speak unless spoken to.”

The whip cracked a second time, but thankfully only stung a little as her aim was so crooked.

“That will remind you,” Petunia announced, “that I’m here to do a job. I need those pearls. So you’re not leaving until I’ve earned them.”

Petunia_ For the pearl diver and Petunia a night at a London brothel could solve their problems. But walking away becomes impossible. https://books2read.com/suzilovePetPD
Petunia_D2D_
https://books2read.com/suzilovePetPD

Victorian Herb Gardens

September 16, 2026
Lavender Fields
Cottage with Herb garden
   I love herb gardens.
       Love the idea of growing the extra bits and pieces to bring a recipe to life.
            Love the idea that plants can cure what ails you.
                Love that herbs can make your home fragrant and inviting.
                    Love recipes for making perfumes soaps, face creams, and lots of other beauty products from your garden.
         People picture a Victorian garden as a floral festival of delphiniums, hollyhocks, asters and row upon row of pretty flowers. Some were, but the main purpose of a Victorian garden was to grow the vegetables and herbs needed to feed large families. Flowers took second place.
      Herbs were essential to flavour often bland food, or for medicinal purposes, while roots and leaves were used for dyeing clothes.
    Rosemary flavoured home-made lard. Lavender scented clothes. Camomile tea warded off colds and soothed nerves. Horehound with honey cured sore throats.
              So plant herbs and start using them more often in your cooking and everyday life.
                      Enjoy,
                              Suzi
Herbal Hedgerow
Captain’s Cook Cottage

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1804–1815 ca. Silk Wedding Dress Decorated In Gold from Jane Austen and Bridgerton years. #JaneAusten #bridgerton #Regencyfashion #Wedding

September 16, 2026

1804-1815 ca. Wedding Dress. Silk dress with square bodice and very small bodice, short puffed sleeves, beautiful train decorated in gold. via Palais Galliera, or Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. City of Paris Fashion Museum, formerly Musée Galliera.

1804-1815 ca. Wedding Dress. Silk dress with square bodice and very small bodice, short puffed sleeves, beautiful train decorated in gold. via Suzi Love ~ suzilove.com & Palais Galliera, or Musée de la Mode de la Ville de Paris. City of Paris Fashion Museum, formerly Musée Galliera.

HN_26_D2D_FsshionWomen1805-1809
https://books2read.com/SuziLoveFashionWomen1805-1809

SUZI LOVE ~ Writing about romance, history, crazy characters, the Aussie outback and extraordinary places.

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