One week ago tomorrow, three fellow JASNA Iowa Region members and myself were making our way back to Iowa from Kentucky where we had attended the 2015 Jane Austen Society of North America’s Annual General Meeting in Louisville. Five of us actually made the trip south. Two members were AGM veterans, but three of us were attending our first. We attended four days of plenary speakers, break out sessions, meetings and workshops, throwing in a banquet and Regency ball for good measure. As I am categorizing this blog post under Regency Wardrobe, I will keep its focus to only those things fashion related. Otherwise, it might take you eight days to read this post.
One thing I learned quickly is that some people dress in Regency attire every day of the event, and some people never do. Then there are those such as I who fall somewhere in the middle. I attended several fashion related seminars, including “Dressing Mr. Darcy”, “Undressing the Regency Lady”, “Achieving an Air of Decided Fashion”, a luncheon and Regency style show, and a reticule making workshop. However, I along with my fellow Iowa costumers waited until Saturday to break out our gowns. My roommate Jessica and I put on day dresses on Saturday morning to wear to our various appointments.
But Saturday night was the big banquet, promenade and Regency ball when two other members donned their Regency attire and Jessica and I made our big costume changes. Dressed to the nines we enjoyed drinks at the social hour, great food and conversation at the banquet, and flaunted ourselves during the promenade.
Subsequently, we each went our separate ways to our own pursuits. I tried my hand at the Regency ball as I had taken a workshop on English Country Dancing earlier in the week. Although gentlemen were scarce, ladies eagerly jumped in and danced together and we enjoyed a pleasant evening
I was very happy with the results on my ball gown, and particularly pleased with how my turban turned out. I put it together on the fly, sewing party of it on the drive to Louisville and then throwing it all together on the night of the ball.
One highlight of the night was when Jessica and I made a trip to the hotel bar for a nightcap in our ball finery. The non-JASNA patrons may have tried to make sport of us had we not fully embraced the ridiculousness of our attire. It was a night to savor and remember for a long time.
In addition to the fabulous ball and many educational experiences of the AGM, there was the Regency Emporium where you could spend a small (or very large indeed) fortune on trinkets, notions, etc. I only made one purchase at said establishment and I am very pleased with it. One booth was selling sari fabric at very reasonable prices so I picked up this lovely piece for a pittance (my cat appears to approve the purchase).
Stay tuned to future blog posts to see what I manage to make out of it. I certainly have high hopes.