Reproduction Jane Austen's Dress c.1804

     

     

Jane Austen Dress

One of the few known pictures of Jane Austen (1775-1817) is a watercolour by her sister, Cassandra, which was painted on one of their outings during the Austen family's stay in Bath (1801-1806), or on a holiday by the sea. It shows Jane in a beautiful, flowing blue day dress and matching bonnet. I decided that my project for the next Jane Austen Festival (2006 originally, now 2007) would be to make a reproduction of this dress.

Items to make:

- Dress
- Bonnet
- Chemisette

The Dress

18/02/05 I decided to make the dress in a very floaty blue cotton and line it with the same in white. The pattern has been designed so that the top skirt will lift slightly while walking, causing the white underskirt to be seen.
20/05/05 The pieces have now been cut out. Its been a long time coming, but we have been busy with the 1780 dress. I'm planning to work on this dress, and hopefully finish it, over the next three weeks.
23/08/05 The bodice pieces are now sewn together.
18/03/07 After a very short break (ahem) I have come back to this and finished it in one day flat! I was very please wuth the sleves as I was rather concerned about them before, but I think they look like the picture. The back unfortunatly pulls a little in he picture because I didn't have my corset on. I decided to trim the whole thing with satin bias to match the bonnet (you can also see a white trim/under dress on the original) and I added tucks into the sleeves and hem, as it seemed to suit the gown. Looks back on it, it might have looked a little better in a cheaper thinner muslin. Should be wearing this one day at the Jane Austen Festival this year, so if you see me please give your comments!

Accessories

- bonnet

22/05/05 I am making the bonnet out of the same blue cotton poplin as the main gown. I have decided to make it entirely blue, but with white trim.
18/03/07 Also finished this on my manic day of super-fast sewing! Used some left over buckram from my Charles Wade Project and it actually looks like a bonnet! This is my first buckram bonnet that has worked so I'm quite pleased!

- chemisette

23/08/05 The chemisette is already basically made up. All it needs is the collar.
18/03/07 Re-made the entire thing and put a plain white collar on it. I didn't have a clue what to do with the collar (any suggestions recieved gratefully)

Pictures