Accessories were a vital part of the Regency wardrobe as they not only were a symbol of status but were the main source of diversifying the wardrobe. The above image of a woman wrapped in a red shawl with an orange feathered bonnet displays two of the three main Regency accessories. The four main accessories of the period were shawls, bonnets, and gloves. There are others such as parasols and fans, but these four are the main components of a fashionable lady in Jane Austen’s time.
As many women had only a handful of dresses, accessories were used to vary outfits and a cheaper method of being fashionable than buying a new dress. Often accessories where also shared among family so it could also be a symbol of closeness as in the case of the Austen sisters (Tavela). Shawls are a piece of fabric used to keep the wearer warm or display opulence as they could be embroidered or of an expensive fabric. Paisley designs were particularly popular at the time due to the small intricate needlework and their association with the East India Company often signifying status (Boyle). Bonnets were a must in Regency society. When walking about or on social calls, bonnets both protected the hair and displayed fashion. Bonnets were a cheaper way for those in lower positions to be fashionable as they could be handmade or bought locally and elevate a look to a higher status (Boyle). They were also easy to mend and rework to make it look new and keep them long term (Davidson). Gloves were often a staple of looks as they could “confine the physical body, yet they also draw attention to the hands, showcasing the delicacy of a woman’s hands through their light color” (Tavela). Pristinely kept white gloves are also a symbol of status as they could be kept clean. Different combinations of shawls, bonnets, and gloves can make an old dress look completely different and provide variety in the regency wardrobe.
Work Cited
Boyle, Laura. “In Your Easter Bonnet.” JaneAusten.co.uk, 24 Aug. 2023, janeausten.co.uk/blogs/regency-accessories/in-your-easter-bonnet. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
---. “Paisley Shawls in the Regency.” Jane Austen Centre and the Jane Austen Online Gift Shop, 2012, janeausten.co.uk/blogs/regency-accessories/paisley-shawls-in-the-regency.
Davidson, Hilary. Dress in the Age of Jane Austen. Regency Fashion. New Haven, Yale University Press, 2019.
“Red Shawl with Greek Key Border, Contrasting with White Directoire Gown.” Costume Parisien , 1799, commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1799-red-shawl.jpg.
Tavela, Sara. ““I Have Unpacked the Gloves”: Accessories and the Austen Sisters» JASNA.” Jasna.org, 2017, jasna.org/publications-2/persuasions-online/vol38no1/tavela/. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.