How many of Amanda’s blogs revolve around fashion? She is our very own fashionista and we depend upon her to keep us up on all the rage from those historical ages.
I thought you might like to see what Amanda looks like when she comes upon a beautiful gown from the past. Here she is, complete with worshipful expression, at the Jane Austen Centre in Bath. The photo is from our 2003 Regency Tour of England.
There’s more!
Amanda and me circa 2000, I think, dressed for the Beau Monde Soiree. This was Amanda’s Titanic costume.
My Regency dress was sewn by my personal modiste, Helen, who made the dress from a pattern created from an actual gown of the early 1800s. I think we could have done a better job of the hat but I love the dress. I just need to lose 20 lbs to wear it again.
Isn’t Amanda’s dress pretty?
Here’s another one. I’m guessing this is 2003.
Again my dress is by Helen, but is made from a Simplicity pattern (we learned our lesson on the real Regency dress!) but made of genuine Regency microfiber (hee hee)
This, I believe, was Amanda’s milkmaid costume and I could just see her alongside Marie Antoinette at the Hameau.
On that Regency tour of England, visiting Bath, we danced with the Jane Austen dancers in the same Assembly rooms where Jane Austen danced. This time Amanda dressed as the perfect Regency young lady.
This past summer at the Beau Monde Soiree, Amanda did not appear. Instead there was this unidentified young dandy. Here he is with, from left to right, Lady Julia (Justiss), Lady Louisa (Cornell), and Princess Keira, lately from India.
See? She is really our Regency fashionista!
Last week Scandalizing the Ton was a Fresh Fiction Featured Pick!
Don’t forget, this coming Sunday my friend Mary Blayney will be visiting. At Wet Noodle Posse we’re blogging about writing challenges.
Anything in particular you’d like me to blog about next week? Just let me know!
Diane: Thanks for the photos! Every so often I think about getting myself gussied up for the soiree, but then I lose steam. It’s inspiring to see what you guys have done.
As for posts, how about what you’re working on next? Or how you decide what you’re going to work on next?
Megan, I missed a few Soirees the last few years when other things interfered, but last summer it was so much fun to dress up again. I have enough “Amanda” in me to fantasize about a new costume, but my modiste may not be as enthusiastic. I did wear the dark blue dress to her house for a Halloween party, though!
What I’m working on next! that’s not a bad idea for a blog!!
Writing challenges are always interesting, too. 🙂
LOL on the post! I stumbled out of bed this morning and signed onto Riskies only to find a plethora of old costume pics. 🙂 My modiste does not always start out so enthusiastic about my ideas, either, but I can usually persuade her that it will be a fun and artistic challenge! (The trip to Versailles helps, as she could see lots of the portraits and images in situ)
When I visited the Jane Austen Centre last month, they had a very interesting display of a red and white striped muslin Regency gown that had been found in pieces in someone’s old sewing bag, and was reconstructed by museum curators. It was in wonderful shape when they finished! I will post some pics soon. (They also had an exhibit of costumes from “Miss Austen Regrets”, and at the Fashion Museum in the assembly rooms there were several lovely examples of Georgian and Regency fashions. Plus a gown of Queen Victoria’s–she was even shorter than me!!!)
But you were gussied up for the last soiree, Megan, as a time-traveler from the 1970s.
Still, I have to agree that Amanda’s a wonder, not just for the costumes, but for the amazing verve and energy with which she tackles all sorts of historical periods.
And I’m so looking forward to Mary Blayney’s interview. Yay Riskies!
“but for the amazing verve and energy with which she tackles all sorts of historical periods.”
Ha! Wish I could find some verve and energy now as I hit the sagging middle on the WIP. Anyone know how to stop characters from behaving like immature brats??
And BTW, I do like the portrait on your cover, Pam. I may have to find a gown with sleeves like that…
You do know that they were called “imbecile sleeves,” don’t you, Amanda?
Great pics, Diane!
So, what should you blog on next? Hm… You could always give us pics of Gerard Butler in Regency gowns!
BTW, did you see RockNRolla?
Cara
The many wondrous guises of Amanda!
Hats off to her “modiste.”
Diane, as a blog idea, I’d be interested to know how much your writing process has changed from the beginning of your career to now, if at all.
I just love all those pictures, and the gowns and outfits are all terrific!!! 🙂
Lois
Amanda, your modiste is divine. How did you ever find such a treasure? 🙂
My solution for sagging middle is to have some sort of big scene/secondary Black Moment around the middle. It could be anything: a battle, a ball, a major scandal breaking, an important sex scene (the sort that creates new problems).
Oh and Diane, I like the others’ suggestions for blog topics.
To our visitors…are there any topics you’d like to see us all do in a theme week?
“You do know that they were called “imbecile sleeves,” don’t you, Amanda?”
We all have to suffer for fashion in some way… 🙂
Janegeorge, I like your blog idea! Very interesting.
And Elena, I do have a sex scene coming up, but then still 100 pages to fill. Ugh.
What a great post! Thanks for the view into all the fun!
Cara asks:
So, what should you blog on next? Hm… You could always give us pics of Gerard Butler in Regency gowns!
Hmmm. Good idea!
BTW, did you see RockNRolla?
Not yet! But I must see it before it disappears. It seems like some critics like it.
janegeorge suggests:
Diane, as a blog idea, I’d be interested to know how much your writing process has changed from the beginning of your career to now, if at all.
Oh, gosh. This would cause me to think! and remember! That’s hard….
Hey, ladydoc! Welcome to the Riskies. Hope you come often.
Amanda’s costumes are a marvel and what a great retrospective!
I’m thinking of getting another gown made in a sensible striped cotton since I seem to spend so much time doing dishes when I dress up (for events at the local federal-era house where I volunteer). Last time I was to wear my silk gown, I made the mistake of washing it and then discovering the iron was broken. Oops.
Riskies!! A quick fly-by comment.
Ammanda, so lovely to see you in all your guises. But you as that gentleman in blue last year. Ooh, la, la. Bertie can’t hold a candle to ya. 🙂
Ammanda, you seem to have cajoled your mom into an agreeable mindset after she refused to make anything fancy for you after this summer epic endeavor.
I’m going to have a Regency day gown made up for next summer. A vertical striped gown would be nice. To draw attention away the bulges. I have the gloves and a reticule. Now to find a bonnet and a modiste.
Amanda’s verve definitely exceeds mine! But I am gradually getting enough pieces that my Regency costume isn’t a complete disgrace. Perhaps I’ll try to acquire some proper knee breeches before the Jane Austen Evening in January…
Cara wrote:
BTW, did you see RockNRolla?
Diane wrote:
Not yet! But I must see it before it disappears. It seems like some critics like it.
I liked it! But you have to have a lot of caffeine beforehand so you can stay awake enough to keep track of the one billion characters.
Todd-who-always-has-a-lot-of-caffeine
Todd. I only care about keeping track on ONE character.
Todd. I only care about keeping track on ONE character.
And how nice that one character looks in the movie, Diane! And it’s nice to hear him use his own accent…
Cara