Yes Pelisse! Regency Fashion Inspiration for your Winter Wardrobe

The first flurries of Winter snow have recently touched down here in Jane Austen's England and it won't be long before the hats, scarves, and garish Christmas jumpers are dug out of the back of wardrobes for another outing. Fortunately today, most of us have central heating and hi-tech thermal undies to keep up cosy in the Winter months, but back in Jane Austen's day, you were at the mercy of the elements, and probably stuck close to the roaring indoor fire. However, it was sometimes necessary to go outdoors, perhaps to attend a Christmas dinner party, so let's have a look at how Jane Austen might have bundled up in her time and how we might draw inspiration today. 

Before the puffer, there was the pelisse. Though it started life as a shorter coat worn by hussars, it came into fashion as a long outerwear option for ladies during the Regency period. A long garment that falls to the floor and buttons around the chest and neck, the pelisse was a cross between a dress and a coat, and could be worn to protect the gown and keep you warm during the chillier months. In famous Regency style, the jacket was fastened below the breast, giving the jacket a long, flowing skirt and typical Neo-classical waistline. In the winter, a pelisse might be made of wool and trimmed or lined with fur for warmth.

Whilst Empire lines are currently out of fashion, a long coat is still considered very cosmopolitan. Trench coats such as this one available at H&M offer the same length, feminine cinch at the waist, and military-inspired detail as the pelisse. If you're looking for something with more of a feminine silhouette, a swing coat retains the vintage feel and all-over coverage. I love these ones from Hell Bunny and Pretty Kitty Fashion which come in festive colours. 

Fans of Regency dramas will have seen many a spencer before. Legendarily inspired by the burned off tails of George Spencer, the 2nd Earl Spencer's tailcoat. Though the jacket was initially adopted by men, it quickly became fashionable as a jacket or cardigan that could be worn over gowns. 

In recent years, the cropped jacket has had many outings, with cropped blazer and pencil skirt sets brought into fashion by both the Barbie movie and the Clueless-Renaissance 

If your pelisse or spencer didn't quite offer the cosy warmth necessary, it was possible to layer a pelerine over the top. A pelerine is a kind of wrap around collar fastened at the neck, made of either cloth, lace or fur. In this way, a fur pelerine could offer the warmth we might associate with a scarf, or even a cape. 

Thrillingly, you can actually get something very similar this season to layer over your party look. River Island are currently selling a faux-fur cape that clips at the collar, in both brown and red. Alternately, sleeved shrugs are super popular at the moment, making a cute addition to any casual look. Not quite as cosy, but they're keep your shoulders covered. Alternately, you could try your hand at making your own with our ePattern, which you can purchase here (we'd love to see photos of your creations!) 

To keep the head and ears warm during the colder months, it was sensible to put on a bonnet before departing for your carriage. Though worn year round, a winter bonnet might be made of a sturdier and cosier material such as velvet. 

Though a Regency bonnet might be a very conspicuous presence on our streets today, I'm a huge fan of the cute knit bonnets that have been popping up all over the high street this year. They can be made with a flat top, or a cute little elven point on them, and are all over crafting sites like Etsy. You might even try knitting your own! I love this one from Urban Outfitters.

In the Regency period, there were gloves for everything from dining to dancing, but in the Winter they became an even more essential Regency Accessory. Though today we typically wear gloves made of wool, cotton, or synthetic materials, Regency gloves were usually made of sturdier leathers and animal skins that were sturdier and longer wearing. For indoor wear, fingerless mitts were popular, as they kept the hands warm without impeding the fingers for writing or sewing.