Regency Working Class Women’s Clothing

Regency clothing is incredibly popular for historical costuming today, especially with Jane Austen and “Bridgerton.” But most people focus on fashionable clothing for balls and promenades. I wanted to highlight the clothing of working class women, since it is just as important to understand and appreciate as those of the wealthy elite. Even though it doesn’t garner as much attention, I honestly enjoy making working class/common people’s clothing! It really has its own appeal and beauty. My clothing consists of a linen shift, linen stays (corset), cotton under petticoat, wool outer petticoat, cotton short gown, printed cotton kerchief, linen apron, and cotton cap. Those of you familiar with 18th century clothing may recognize some aspects of 18th century fashion still lingering in the clothing of working class people, like the scarlet wool cloak and black silk bonnet. Images of working class women from the beginning of the 19th century show a mix of old and new styles, as fashion was changing rapidly during this period. Burnley and Trowbridge (linen fabric, linen tape, synthetic whalebone, reproduction kerchiefs): Pattern for my stays from Corsets by Jill Salen: =sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=jill salen corsets&qid=1612662613&sr=8-1 Images: (1804) :Modern_London;_being_the_history_and_present_state_of_the_British_Metropolis_(1804)_by_Richard_Phillips#/media/File:Phillips(1804)_p585_-_St_James’ :593 Music from Epidemic Sound