Volume 1 Issue 4 April 2006 Published by Author Linore Rose Burkard http://www.LinoreRoseBurkard.com ___________________________________
Contents: News : Announcements Facts: Welcome to the Regency! A Whimsical Peek (Pt.1) Fashion: Headdress: Caps, Hats, Bonnets and Ribbons Fr.ee Download: Gardening in Small Spaces by Betty Mackey Inspirational: On Achieving Goals Handy Link(s): Something for Everybody (I daresay) ___________________________________
Announcement: A very special THANKS to Ms.Erica Lauver, a "Great Books" teacher at Ridgeville Christian Schools here in Ohio. Ms. Lauver decided to use my book, "Before the Season Ends" as a text for her class this semester! Thanks again, Erica, I am honored!
In case other teachers are interested in doing the same, I am available for teleconferencing or email Q&A; (classroom visits for schools that are local, only, please).
For those who have not yet read, "Before the Season Ends," please see this as an indication that my book is not your typical dimestore Regency! ___________________________________________________________
Facts: (Back to Basics) Welcome to the Regency! (Part 1) By, Linore Rose Burkard As I speak to people, I find that many are uncertain what the Regency actually was. As a writer of Regency romance I'd like to give readers a whimsical peek. Just for fun, of course. Would you like to join me?
Since I could never do justice to the period in a short article such as this, I'll be content with giving you word-pictures--images that you must allow to appear in your mind as you read them. Think you can--figuratively--close your eyes? Good. Here we go!
Jane Austen; Lord Byron King George III; The Prince Regent Napoleon Bonaparte; The Duke of Wellington Princess Caroline; Princess Charlotte The War of 1812; The Battle of Waterloo
Everyone and every thing I just named all have a common thread; a common denominator, if you will. They all lived, or occurred (the events)--during a time in history known as the Regency.
So what was this thing called a regency? In 1811 England, the Prince of Wales, (the future George IV) was appointed regent, which means acting monarch--in place of his father, the beleaguered, suffering old king, George III--who was very ill and no longer mentally competent to rule. That, in short, is what necessitated the Regency. And until the good king died, in 1820, his son was Regent. (His friends still called him "Prinny" but don't tell him I told you so.)
Welcome then, to Regency, England. It is anywhere from 1811 to 1820, and if you'll give me just a few minutes, I think you'll discover that you like the place.
Why? For the simple reason that there is no other time in history that was quite like it.
(If you were unfortunate enough to have been born into the lower classes you might not have enjoyed it so well; But for the upper classes of the day, it was a time of extravagant, if not frenetic, living.)
For much of the year, but especially during what was called the season, one's life was filled with pursuits and pleasures and etiquette, such as:
Balls and Card-parties Making house calls in carriages, and having them returned Leaving your card and collecting the cards of others Cabriolets and Landaus, Coaches and Curricles Artists and Aristocrats Royalty and Romances ("Intrigues") Suppers and Soirees, Illuminations and Exhibitions Concerts and Cotillions Muslins and Milliners Tailors and Turbans Clubs and Coffee-houses Uniforms and Regiments Carlton House and White's Butlers and Housekeepers, Parlour maids and Postillions Fashion and Fops; Dandies and Originals Getting a picture? Want some more?
Duels and Seconds Hessians and Half-boots Curtseys and Bows Dowagers and Dukes Bonnets and Ballrooms White gloves and Glass Slippers (no, no, just kidding!) Colonels and Coronets Mayfair and Members (of Parliament, that is) Foot Guards and Fobs
This is likely more fun for me than you, unless you are very familiar with the time; Nevertheless, I hope you've had a taste, (if ever so elusive) of the flavour of the Regency. To get a more in-depth feel for what it was, I commend you to books. For research, there are many. (I'll give you my list of favorite research tomes in another issue) For fun and curiosity's sake, there are--what else?--Regency romances--(and memoirs). (You knew I'd get to that sooner or later, didn't you? And this, I believe, is my cue to curtsey my way out, before I say some nasty things about many Regencies in print today. Rest assured that I wrote mine, however, with a view to 'reforming' the genre. (A hefty claim, I know, but if you don't reach very high, you'll assuredly never get there.) The Regency? You've got to love it!
Linore Rose Burkard is the author of the ground-breaking Inspirational Regency Romance, Before the Season Ends. She runs monthly specials on her books from her website, where you can also sign up for her FREE eZine, "Upon My Word!". Visit her online at http://www.LinoreRoseBurkard.com
No doubt we are all familiar with the bonnet, the quintessential 19th Century head-covering for women. Of course it was used earlier, and stayed in fashion until the end of the century, but a bonnet was simply the beginning of what a Regency fashionable might sport upon her head.
First of all let us also understand that these bonnets, which a lady did well to wear upon leaving her house for any reason whatsoever, were also called, simply, (and like today) "hats."
Men would invariably call it a "bonnet" (which is an entire discussion in itself, raising all sorts of questions about how the male perhaps wished to retain dominance through the use of language. If that sounds completely off-the-wall, consider that "bonnet" has a childish connotation to it, whereas the word "hat," which was ALWAYS used to describe the category of a man's head-covering, did not. Anyway, I won't continue that discussion --at least, not here!)
So--if "bonnets" were just the beginning, what followed?
First, ornamentation and beribboning of a said bonnet, which could include almost anything--from jewels to feathers to beads, faux flowers, brooches, veils, (not full-face, unless in mourning, usually), lace, silk, scarves, ruched fabric (gathered), and so on. As the variety is nearly endless, it's impossible to describe them all.
After decoration of the bonnet ( which itself came in many forms, from the poke bonnet-- which grew in popularity over the course of the century--to those resembling a cap), there were:
Bandeaux--stretchy fabric bands worn around the head, not far above the forehead, which could be thin or wide, depending upon one's taste or inclination, and again could be ornamented heavily or not, according to taste and expenditure. Veils (freestanding) and not necessarily covering the face, but simply draped over the head. Tiaras (a favourite for my heroine in, Before the Season Ends!) Slim, elegant, and crown-like, these were favoured for full-dress affairs, being usually of true silver or gold, expensive and bejewelled (though, like most other items, had their less expensive counterparts.) Caps Different from a cap-like bonnet, a genuine cap for a lady was soft, even if lined, and probably only the lightest muslins and laces were used. A cap used for night-wear, however, (sleeping) might have been heavier, and puffy, like the "mob-caps" worn mostly by the older generation in the Regency. (In a time that lacked central heating, the mob-cap was eminently practical.) In earlier times, the style of mob-cap crossed the channel from France, where the Parisian mob was all the rage. Light muslin caps were the usual indoor wear, (day or night) while a bonnet was an absolute necessity for venturing forth from one's abode. Turbans Another form of draping the head which became popular, especially in the later Regency. This style did not, like the Empire dress, have its roots in classicism, but in the ever-widening expanse of the British empire. As men returned to England with more and more trinkets and ideas from the Far East and India, certain accessories (not to mention furniture and decoration--one has only to think of the Regent's Pavilion at Brighton for immense evidence!) became the fashion, the turban being among the most popular. It was often draped around the head, with ample fabric left to hang down gracefully in back, or to the side. This headpiece, too, could be, and often was, ornamented. Large fringed, tassels were often sported. And the color, print, and quality of the fabric, as well as the choice of ornament or tassels went far in completing an elegant outfit. Tocques These were stiffer than a turban, but unlike a bonnet were brimless, and always close-fitting to the head. Again the variety of style, color and decoration were as individual as the women who wore them.
Finally, in addition to all the above, women could, on occasion, forego an actual "hat" of any sort, in favor of mere ribbons, pins and other artful ways of adorning the hair. And, never forget, that all of these headdresses were worn over hair that had most often already been done up in some style, probably an elaborate one, particularly for full-dress occasions. It should also be noted that a bonnet was the headwear during the day, (outside of the home) whereas other forms of headdress were more suited for evening, or formal, wear. To be accepted at Court, a lady was actually required to include feathers "at the back of the lady's head". The Regency? You've got to love it! ___________________________________
F.r.e.e. Download of the Month: Gardening in Small Spaces, by Betty Mackey
Ms. Mackey has graciously allowed me to share her 12pg. ebook with you, my subscribers. It's just in time for the Spring, and no matter the size of your space--whether you've a patio or 100 acres--there's always a "small space" that defies use, in terms of how to use it. As Betty begins the book, "When your space is small, think big and tall." Gives you a hint of where she's going. Get your copy right now! (You'll need the password: green) Go here for your download: http://www.LinoreRoseburkard.com/garden.html
for those with AOL, use this link: <a href="http://www.linoreroseburkard.com/garden.html"> </a> Remember, the password is "green" (no quotation marks)______________________________________
Inspirational:
A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement. --Bo Bennett
"A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and
deadline." -- Harvey Mackay, Author
Been reaching any goals or dreams, lately? Let me share with you how I reached one of my biggest dreams: that of writing a novel. I didn't sit down to write the whole thing at once. I wrote what came naturally (at first); I didn't stress over every little thing. In other words, I started my large goal of writing a complete novel, with smaller goals, of writing, say, one chapter. When that first chapter was done, I then moved to a new goal, of the next chapter. And so on and so forth. When the whole book was finished, I then began a totally new set of goals, the first being, to polish Chapter One. This entailed checking all my historical facts; all the grammar; the "flow" of the writing; the "interest level" and so on. Even spelling and whether or not some words should be capitalized or not need to be checked, if you aren't really, really sure.
Slowly, as your smaller goals are reached and passed, you will be gaining confidence so that when it's time for the BIG goal to be tackled--(for me it was deciding to go public, aka getting published) you will be ready!
Thanks for reading! I wish you all the best in reaching your goals, be they large or small.
Blessings,
Linore PS: Don't forget--if you haven't yet picked up your copy of Before the Season Ends, I offer a special each month on my website! Go to: http://www.LinoreRoseBurkard.com/tuition_help.html to see this month's offer. If you haven't read "Secrets" (my latest short story), this, too, is available with a special offer!
PSS: Feel f.ree to pass this newsletter on to anyone you know. The monthly downloads are available for a few weeks at the least. ______________________________________________________________
Almost Forgot! This month's Handy Link: Hint: If you're not a mother, don't bother! (I'll have a second mystery link for you!) http://www.all-gifted-children.com/
Handy Link 2: For the rest of us. (Maybe)! http://cats.allinfoabout.com/
Not a cat lover? Here's a Regency-related site for you! This is really cool! Grab a cup of tea and visit. ( Unless, of course, it's not your "cup of tea". Ahem.)
