Your Wardrobe Unlock'd

Some you know, some you won't, but in any case, the next time you travel, consider incorporating your passion for fashion.

One of my priorities when reproducing the fashions of any era is to be able to create something which can be simultaneously historically accurate and individual and distinctive in style. It is becoming harder and harder to accomplish this with Regency fashion due to the huge amount that is reproduced every year, partly due to the enormous popularity of Jane Austen.

In response I've made it my task to uncover some of the lesser known extant examples of Regency clothing, giving you a detailed insight into some more unusual examples of Regency outerwear. These are often found packed away, unseen, in the archives of museums for years, dropping into an oblivion of forgotten fashion styles.

You'll discover ways to make your own reproductions distinctive and imaginative whilst staying within the realms of historical accuracy: we'll begin by examining the pelisse and how to pattern it, then moving on to the spencer, cloaks, capes, mantles and wraps.

One of my priorities when reproducing the fashions of any era is to be able to create something which can be simultaneously historically accurate and individual and distinctive in style. It is becoming harder and harder to accomplish this with Regency fashion due to the huge amount that is reproduced every year, partly due to the enormous popularity of Jane Austen.

In response I've made it my task to uncover some of the lesser known extant examples of Regency clothing, giving you a detailed insight into some more unusual examples of Regency outerwear. These are often found packed away, unseen, in the archives of museums for years, dropping into an oblivion of forgotten fashion styles.

You'll discover ways to make your own reproductions distinctive and imaginative whilst staying within the realms of historical accuracy: we'll begin by examining the pelisse and how to pattern it, then moving on to the spencer, cloaks, capes, mantles and wraps.

Did you know that the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute has a large online photo archive of their collection?

Neither did I until recently, since it's impossible to find from their home page!

 I've found the back door to it, and sleuthed out a great many other museums with online costume collections!

This month we interview Hilary Davidson, a curator of fashion and decorative arts at the Museum of London.