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Archive for the ‘250th Anniversary of Jane Austen’ Category

Book Review: A Guide to Regency Dress

Posted in 250th Anniversary of Jane Austen, Book review, Clothes, Fashions, Jane Austen's World, Regency Etiquette, Regency fashion, Regency Life, Regency style, Regency Women, Regency World on January 12, 2026| 8 Comments »

As we enter the new year, I introduce to you a beautiful new book by Hilary Davidson called A Guide to Regency Dress: from Corsets and Breeches to Bonnets and Muslins. This book is a true gem, and it was the perfect gift (to myself) for Christmas. I am a fashion and textiles nut, and a huge fan of Davidson’s work, including her previous book Jane Austen’s Wardrobe.

This is one of my favorite new books of the past year, and I plan to use it as I read and research Austen’s novels and watch the film adaptations. Davidson provides a comprehensive glossary of terms related to fashion and clothing during Austen’s time, included beautiful photography to help illustrate various items. Seeing everything in one place makes this a Jane Austen fashion dictionary and encyclopedia that is both fascinating and beautiful. What might normally take me hours to research for one of my articles, I can now find easily in one place.

I particularly enjoyed the way the book is broken up into sections, with a detailed glossary in each section. The sections include Women, Men, Hair and Beauty, Jewellry (sic), and Textiles and Trimmings. Each section includes information and a full glossary with exquisite, full-color photos and illustrations. I enjoyed reading about the differences between items such as women’s stockings and men’s stockings. Women are often the focal point of Regency dress, but men’s clothing and dress is just as interesting. As a writer, I also appreciated Richardson’s extensive bibliography at the end of the book.

You can peruse this book anytime you want to learn more about dress in Austen’s day or find inspiration for your next Regency tea party, event, or ball!

Order Your Copy Here

About the Book

An accessible, fun, yet authoritative guide to male and female Regency fashion: Celebrated dress historian Hilary Davidson brings together nearly 20 years of research on Regency fashion in an illustrated guide for the first time. All the elements of the Regency wardrobe of both men and women―from coats, gowns and undergarments to shoes, accessories, beauty, hair and jewellery―are assembled, along with their textiles and trimmings.

A Guide to Regency Dress is an essential companion to navigate the fashion world of Jane Austen or re-create the Regency look. Here’s a look inside the book:

About the Author

Hilary Davidson is a dress, textiles, and fashion historian and curator. Hilary trained as a bespoke shoemaker in her native Australia before completing a Masters in the History of Textiles and Dress at Winchester School of Art (University of Southampton) in 2004. As a skilled and meticulous hand-sewer, she has created replica clothing projects for a number of museums, including a ground-breaking replication of Jane Austen’s pelisse.

In 2007, Hilary became curator of fashion and decorative arts at the Museum of London. She also worked on the AHRC 5-star rated Early Modern Dress and Textiles Network (2007-2009) and from 2011 has appeared as an expert on a number of BBC historical television programs, and as a frequent radio guest speaker in London and Sydney. From 2012, Hilary worked between Sydney and London as a freelance curator, historian, broadcaster, teacher, lecturer, consultant and designer, while working on a PhD in Archaeology at La Trobe University, Melbourne. In 2022, she moved to New York City to take up the role of Associate Professor and Chair of the MA Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Hilary has taught and lectured extensively at the University of Southampton, Central St Martins, the University of Cambridge, the University of Glasgow, New York University London, The American University Paris, Fashion Design Studio TAFE Sydney and the National Institute of Dramatic Art, Sydney. Her previous books include Dress in the Age of Jane Austen (2019) and Jane Austen’s Wardrobe (2023).

Final Thoughts

When I attended my first JASNA AGM many years ago, I wore a beautiful Regency dress my mother sewed for me to the banquet and ball. I received a lot of compliments, but I only had a dress. Since then, I’ve slowly added to my “Jane Austen closet” with various accessories. Now that I have this book, I can continue to expand my collection until I can dress in Regency clothing from head to toe.

I could easily spend hours researching the fashion and textiles of Jane Austen’s era, and I hope others of you will find this new resource as fascinating as I do!

Rachel Dodge Bio

Rachel Dodge teaches writing classes, speaks at libraries, teas, and conferences, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling, award-winning author of The Anne of Green Gables Devotional, The Little Women Devotional, The Secret Garden Devotional, and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. She has narrated numerous book titles, including the Praying with Jane Audiobook with actress Amanda Root. A true kindred spirit at heart, Rachel loves books, bonnets, and ballgowns. Visit her online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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Dear Readers: Merry Holiday Season and Have a Happy New Year’s Eve!

Posted in 250th Anniversary of Jane Austen, Christmas, Jane Austen's World, tagged on December 28, 2025| 8 Comments »

Ah, ’tis the season for celebrations! And what a better way to recall our dear Jane’s 250th birthday celebration than during the month of December?

This link leads you to a 2006 post of holiday celebrations Jane would have enjoyed.

Then, this YouTube video features both Chawton Cottage and Chawton House, and will take you on a walk past the beautifully preserved houses that Jane and Cassandra must have seen during their walks through the village.

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More Birthday Events for Jane Austen!

Posted in 250th Anniversary of Jane Austen, Jane Austen Festival, Jane Austen's World, tagged , , , , on December 18, 2025| 2 Comments »

By Brenda S. Cox

“One cannot have too large a party.” —Mr. Weston, Emma, volume 3, chapter 6

Happy Birthday all year long, dear Jane!

On Austen’s birthday, Dec. 16, we visited a few of the many events for Jane Austen’s 250th birthday this year. Here are a few more that my friends have attended:

July: Jane Austen Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio

(Reported by Christel Ford)

The yearly Jane Austen Festival in Louisville, Kentucky moved to Cincinnati, Ohio this year. The venue was the Heritage Village Museum, where sessions were held in historic buildings. The Post Office had examples of period letters, with docents answering questions about mail service of the period and letters.

Many attendees wore beautiful period clothing.  A tent village offered many types of shops. Dresses, hats, fabric and sundries were for sale.

A print shop demonstration of printing at the Cincinnati Jane Austen Festival was fascinating and informative.  
Photo ©Christel Ford, 2025
Many different lectures about the period were offered, including a side saddle demonstration and a display of antique clothing with embroidery. Costume expert Ann Wass was one of the speakers at the Cincinnati Jane Austen Festival.
Photo ©Christel Ford, 2025
Participants at the Cincinnati Jane Austen Festival experienced period games, such as this game of graces, played by Christel Ford and Melissa Johnson.
Photo ©Christel Ford, 2025

Next year’s Festival will be in April; get your costumes ready!

June to September: A Lively Mind: Jane Austen at 250 at the Morgan Library and Museum in Manhattan, NY

(Reported by Renata Dennis, JASNA regional coordinator for Georgia)

A Lively Mind: Jane Austen at 250 at the Morgan Library.
Photo ©Renata Dennis, 2025

Many Janeites traveled up to New York City to see the fantastic exhibition hosted by the Morgan Library for Jane’s 250th birthday. A group from our Georgia region visited together on the opening weekend. Renata Dennis said the exhibit was jam-packed with fascinating materials. She enjoyed seeing everyday objects like letters, maps, a ledge of expenditures, and a reproduction of Jane’s pelisse. The exhibit addressed different aspects of Jane’s life, her family, life in England at that time, and her relationships. It also included her books in different languages and adaptations.

Some highlights were silhouettes of Jane’s parents, some of her music manuscripts, letters, and literary manuscripts, her turquoise ring, first editions of Emma and Mansfield Park, early illustrations of Sense and Sensibility, and much more.

The exhibition website says:

“A Lively Mind immerses viewers in the inspiring story of Jane Austen’s authorship and her gradual rise to international fame. Iconic artifacts from Jane Austen’s House in Chawton, England join manuscripts, books, and artworks from the Morgan, as well as from a dozen institutional and private collections, to present compelling new perspectives on Austen’s literary achievement, her personal style, and her global legacy.”

Replica of Jane Austen’s desk, with wallpaper from her house, at the Morgan exhibition.
Photo ©Renata Dennis, 2025
Scholar Juliette Wells of Goucher College (which has a fantastic collection itself) shows visitors Austen letters at the Morgan exhibit. At the JASNA AGM, Wells talked about the intricacies of identifying various artifacts related to Austen.
Photo ©Renata Dennis, 2025
Silhouettes of George and Cassandra Austen at the Morgan exhibit.
Photo ©Renata Dennis, 2025

Harewood House, Leeds, England: Austen and Turner: A Country House Encounter

(Reported by Lori Mulligan Davis)

In 2025, Harewood House celebrated the 250th birthdays of two national icons, Jane Austen and painter J.M.W. Turner. They never met in life, but they mingle daily in wallets, with Turner on the £20 and Austen on the £10 banknote. Working with the Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies at the University of York, Harewood House Trust exhibited artworks and artifacts on topics of interest to Austen and Turner, including domestic tourism of country houses, the rising importance of sociability, the rage for the picturesque landscape, and the results of empire and slavery. Many first-time guests coming for Austen or Turner were equally glad to experience one of the finest of England’s great estates.

House porter John Jewell’s The Tourist’s Companion, or the History and Antiquities of Harewood, 1819, offering household staff, particularly the housekeeper (think: Mrs. Reynolds), information for conducting weekly tours of house and furnishings to the public.
Photo ©Lorraine Mulligan Davis, 2025.
In the early 19th century, visitors to nearby Harrogate would tour Harewood House, even purchasing souvenirs like this hand-painted traveling writing set.
Photo ©Lorraine Mulligan Davis, 2025.
One of Anya Taylor-Joy’s handsome, clever, and rich costumes from the EMMA. 2020 movie, displayed at Harewood House.
Photo ©Lorraine Mulligan Davis, 2025.
The unfinished manuscript of Sanditon, written just months before Austen’s death. Harewood House commissioned Lela Harris to depict Sanditon’s Miss Lambe, Austen’s only character said to be of African heritage. The unfinished portrait reflects Austen’s unfinished novel and the systematic erasure of women of color from archival spaces.
Photo ©Lorraine Mulligan Davis, 2025.

Many, many more events around the world celebrated Jane Austen’s 250th birthday this year. I hope you got to attend some of them! Tell us about your favorites!

Jane Austen Events

Brenda S. Cox is the author of Fashionable Goodness: Christianity in Jane Austen’s England. She also blogs at Faith, Science, Joy, and Jane Austen.

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Happy 250th Birthday, Jane Austen!

Posted in 250th Anniversary of Jane Austen, Jane Austen Festival, Jane Austen's World, JASNA AGM 2025, tagged , on December 16, 2025| 7 Comments »

By Brenda S. Cox

“One cannot have too large a party. A large party secures its own amusement.”–Emma

2025 has been a full year of celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th birthday. Janeites around the country are having a wide range of parties for Jane this month. Here in Atlanta, our group held a fantastic one day conference in September, besides our December birthday party which included a dance demonstration. Some of our public libraries have had special Austen events throughout the year, ranging from a pre-release screening of Miss Austen, to film versions including Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and the Laurence Olivier Pride and Prejudice, to special talks by authors and fashion experts. They also gave out free copies of Austen’s novels to library visitors.

I had the privilege of attending three major Austen events this year.

June: JASP

In June the Jane Austen Summer Program explored Sensibility and Domesticity with great discussions, lots of dancing, and a display of early editions of Austen’s novels and contemporary books she would have read. I posted about that in July.

A sample of Jenny Batchelor’s beautiful Austen-period embroidery. She taught two workshops and gave a plenary talk on Transatlantic Domestic Arts at JASP 2025.

September: Jane Austen Festival in Bath

Soldiers lead 2,000 people in Regency dress who promenaded through Bath for the 2025 Jane Austen Festival.

In September, I had the privilege of speaking at Bath Abbey during the Jane Austen Festival. This was the biggest one yet. The Promenade through Bath in Regency dress sold out at 2,000 wristbands almost immediately. Eight balls, eight dance workshops (some focused on specific types of dance, like waltzes or cotillions), and two assemblies (with dancing) also sold out rapidly. (At hefty prices—balls cost from £65 to £135 per ticket!) We enjoyed plays and musical programs in the evenings. The Theatre Royal (which Austen attended) showed a delightful version of Emma. Many ladies and gentlemen strolled around Bath in Regency dress all ten days of the Festival. A “pleasure garden” was recreated one evening, with appropriate foods and drinks, entertainers, and even fireworks at the end.

Fire dancer at the Bath Pleasure Garden during the 2025 Jane Austen Festival.

“Book clubs” discussed each of the novels. Hands-on activities gave opportunities to make bonnets, reticules, hairpieces, hussifs (sewing kits), dresses, visiting cards, or parasols; to stargaze, fence, shoot with bows and arrows, or play croquet, whist, and other Regency games; or to sing Austen’s favorite songs, write letters with a quill, bind books, or dye fabric with plants and flowers. Minibus tours took attendees to Meryton, Longbourn, Chawton, Steventon, and Winchester. Walking tours around Bath featured various themes including “What about the Workers?” and “Life and Death in Georgian England.”

A gentleman dressed as Mr. Collins, at “Sew Chatty,” where people brought their sewing projects and socialized, as Austen and her characters socialize over their “work,” their sewing.

Of course I loved the talks by Austen authors and experts. In “Assembly and Diversity in Jane Austen’s Bath” I learned that the Upper Assembly Rooms were established, by subscription, to be open to everyone, not just exclusively for the upper classes—the most inclusive venue in Georgian Britain, according to Dr. Tim Moore. At “Dye and Colour in Regency Life,” I learned that green was a difficult color to create, and they used copper arsenic for it, surrounding people with poison! Every talk I attended brought fascinating new knowledge.

In the Bath Guild Hall, the Jane Austen Dancers prepare to show the intricacies of assemblies, public and private, in Austen’s time.

On the first Sunday, I was glad I arrived early for the free Regency Church Service in Bath Abbey. It was so full they had to turn people away at the doors. I had had the privilege of giving the staff some guidance on what a Regency service would have been like, and was delighted at the beautiful service. (The clergymen even used some material from my book, Fashionable Goodness!) Later that week I had a lovely discussion in the Abbey with those who attended my talk on Hannah More, whom Jane Austen’s friends were “reading with delight.”

Stephen Herring led special tours of Bath Abbey highlighting memorials to people connected to the Austen family. His wife Jackie Herring wrote Jane Austen’s Bath Abbey, giving us those people’s stories.

October: JASNA AGM

For Janeites in America, the JASNA AGM is always a highlight of the year. This one was the biggest ever, with 950 in-person attendees in Baltimore and about 225 on livestream. Our plenary speakers were all superb: Paula Byrne (The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things), Juliette Wells (A New Jane Austen: How Americans Brought Us the World’s Greatest Novelist), Vanessa Riley (Island Queen and other Regency fiction based on real women of color); and John Mullan (What Matters in Jane Austen?).

950 attendees at the 2025 JASNA AGM in Baltimore listen raptly.

A panel of well-known authors discussed Austen’s genius (Janine Barchas, Inger Brodey, Collins Hemingway, and Devoney Looser). And, as always, a fantastic lineup of breakout sessions, special sessions, workshops, tours, and dancing gave us many challenging choices, since we couldn’t do everything!

At the final brunch, John Mullan tells the 2025 JASNA AGM about “Austen’s Choice of Words,” ranging from her use of exclamation marks to her pioneering use of new words.

I loved hearing Susannah Harker, a special guest, talk about her role as Jane Bennet in the 1995 Pride and Prejudice. Did you know that she was pregnant all during filming, so they had to film her very carefully to not show that? Or, have you ever noticed that Darcy rides a black horse at the beginning of the movie, and a white horse later on? I had to rewatch the movie to confirm this; what a sacrifice! 😊

Susannah Harker tells us about playing Jane Bennet.

A special offering this year were pop-up museums. We got to see some of the artefacts discovered in an archaeological dig at Steventon (as well as a talk on how they are developing a virtual version of the Steventon rectory). Caroline Knight brought treasures from the Knight family. Candice Hern shared some of her lovely items that would have been carried in a reticule. Alden O’Brien shared garments of the time. And much more.

Caroline Knight shows Knight family treasures in an AGM pop-up museum.

As one example of a special session, Dan Macey talked about the variety of smells of the time, most of which were bad (think tanneries, chamber pots, slaughter houses, poor hygiene, tallow candles, mutton . . .). But at the end we all got to smell a perfume used at the time, still produced by a perfumer from the 1700s (DR Harris & Co.)

Mackenzie Sholtz teaches a group how to make Regency pin holders.

I got to participate in a “pecha kucha,” a Japanese presentation style that has become very popular worldwide. Three of us had ten minutes each to give the headlines of a talk (20 seconds per slide). I spoke on Hannah More, Nili Olay spoke on LM Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables), and Joy Prevost spoke on AI imaging trying to capture Austen’s genius. People seemed to enjoy these quick talks, and asked great questions at the end. Regular breakout sessions explored topics ranging from philosophy to headgear and shoes to Jane Austen’s “Genius of Place.” (Did you know Austen consulted atlases to find appropriate place names for her fiction, such as situating Highbury in an area with many towns ending in -bury? Hazel Jones told us all about this; she will be one of the keynote speakers next year.)

Next year’s AGM will be in Tuscon, on the “Bath Novels,” Northanger Abbey and Persuasion.

All these events included great shopping arcades. Here are just a few of my favorite acquisitions: an amber cross on a ribbon (like Fanny Price’s) from JASP; a Jane Austen Lego set (40766) from the Festival Fayre in Bath; and an Austen calendar (with dates identified by things that happened in Austen’s life or novels) from the AGM (Wisconsin region does these every year). The 250 pin is also from the AGM.
Happy Birthday, dear Jane!

What have you been doing to celebrate Jane’s 250th birthday? Let us know in the comments. In a few days I will share a few more events that my friends have attended this year.

If you’re looking for Christmas gifts for the Austen-lovers you know, check out these options.

All photos ©Brenda S. Cox, 2025; please request permission for re-use.

I was not able to track down everyone in all these photos. If you were at one of these large events and you object to your photo appearing here, please contact me through my website and I will take the photo down immediately. (Or if you want your name added to the photo description!)

Brenda S. Cox is the author of Fashionable Goodness: Christianity in Jane Austen’s England. She also blogs at Faith, Science, Joy, and Jane Austen.

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Praying with Jane Audiobook with Amanda Root

Posted in 250th Anniversary of Jane Austen, Anglican Church, Inspired by Jane Austen, Jane Austen audio books, Jane Austen Early Life, Jane Austen's Influences, Jane Austen's religion, tagged , , , , on November 6, 2025| 1 Comment »

In honor of Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary year, I’m happy to announce a new audiobook project: The Praying with Jane Audiobook featuring narration by actress Amanda Root and author Rachel Dodge (yours truly). Published by ONE Audiobooks, this title is available on all major audiobook platforms.

Amanda Root is best known by Austen fans around the world for her starring role as Anne Elliot in the acclaimed 1995 BBC adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Root claimed audience hearts opposite Ciarán Hinds, as Captain Wentworth, and has held them ever since.

Proceeds from this anniversary project will be donated directly to the Jane Austen House Museum to further Jane Austen’s lasting legacy.

Persuasion film adaptation with Amanda Root (1995).
Amanda Root and Rachel Dodge, Kansas City AGM.

Audiobook Description

In this 31-day devotional, you will get an in-depth look at Jane Austen’s prayers. Her faith comes to life through her exquisite prayers, touching biographical anecdotes, intimate excerpts from family letters and memoirs, illuminating scenes from her novels, and spiritual insights. Austen’s prayers read by British film and voice actress Amanda Root; text read by author Rachel Dodge.

You can listen to a sample of Jane Austen’s Prayer 1 here, read by actress Amanda Root:

Purchase Here

Proceeds will be donated to the Jane Austen House Museum.

Amanda Root Bio

Amanda Root is an English stage and screen actress and a former voice actress for children’s programs. Root is known for her starring role in the 1995 BBC film adaptation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, her role in the British TV comedy All About Me (2002), as Miranda, alongside Richard Lumsden in 2004, and for voicing Sophie in The BFG (1989). She trained for the stage at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. (IMBD Mini Bio)

Rachel Dodge Bio

Rachel Dodge teaches writing classes, speaks at libraries, teas, and conferences, and writes for Jane Austen’s World blog. She is the bestselling, award-winning author of The Anne of Green Gables Devotional, The Little Women Devotional, The Secret Garden Devotional, and Praying with Jane: 31 Days Through the Prayers of Jane Austen. She has narrated numerous book titles, including the Praying with Jane Audiobook with actress Amanda Root. A true kindred spirit at heart, Rachel loves books, bonnets, and ballgowns. Visit her online at www.RachelDodge.com.

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