Tag Archives: ladies

Beauty References

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A Lady of Distinction. Regency Etiquette: The Mirror of Graces(1811). Enl. ed. Mendocino, CA: R.L. Shep ;, 1997. Andry, Nicolas. Orthopaedia: Or, the Art of Correcting and Preventing Deformities in Children . Vol. 1. London, 1743. Buc’hoz, Pierre-Joseph. The Toilet of Flora Or, a Collection of the Most Simple and Approved Methods of Preparing Baths, Essences, Pomatums, Powders, Perfumes, Sweet-Scented Waters, and Opiates for Preserving and Whitening the Teeth, &c. &c. With Receipts for Cosmetics of Every … Continue reading →

The Pianoforte of Jane Austen’s day

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What was the pianoforte and how did it feature in Austen’s works? The pianoforte so often featured in Jane Austen’s works was essentially the same instrument we know today as the piano. The instrument first came into being about 1700, by  Bartolomeo Cristofori of Padua who cared for the harpsichords of the Florentine court. He developed an instrument similar to a harpsichord that allowed the instrument to be played both soft and loud (the meaning … Continue reading →

Ball Gowns: A Gallery of Finery

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Get ready to drool–and maybe raise a few eyebrows–at ball gowns of Austen’s day. If you missed the first part of this series, you can find links at the bottom of this post. Now that we’ve been instructed on the proper style of dress to wear to a ball and on the finer points of good taste, lets dig into the ball gowns themselves for a bit, shall we? Ball gowns in a nutshell As … Continue reading →

Advice on Good Taste from A Lady of Distinction

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Most are not born with good taste, they must learn it from someone like A Lady of Distinction.  If you missed the first part of this series, you can find links at the bottom of this post. Given the very negative impact dressing improperly could have on a young lady in society,  one could hardly blame said young ladies and their mothers for seeking advice from those who might know better than themselves. Enter ‘A … Continue reading →