dress color regency image
Cristal
Answer
Nothing whatsoever.
Or, possibly, it symbolize's the bride's susceptability to the lure of fashion, which has mandated the "white wedding dress" for the last half-century at least.
It is true, that it started with Queen Victoria. Before her, queens and princesses wore royal blue and purple and cloth of silver and gold. And it did indeed take a long time to catch on: most brides simply wore their "Sunday Best" dress, and even when they purchased a new "wedding dress" it was often dark-coloured.
It is also true that it did not symbolize purity, but it wasn't about wealth either. In that day every maiden in England who had more than one dress had a white linen or muslin dress. While white does get dirty, in a pre-industrial age it is also relatively easy to clean: you wash it in boiling water with lye soap and bleach it by drying in the sun. Pre-industrial dyes would run and fade when subjected to such harsh treatment. Victoria's white dress was the talk of her subjects, not because it was flamboyant, but because after the excesses of the Regency era it was a fresh breath of simplicity and egalitarianism. It was also an economic and nationalistic statement, since it featured all-British manufacture and flaunted British-made lace in support of the flagging lace industry.
But it may not have been a political statement at all. In her journal, Her Majesty herself merely said that she liked the picturesque appearance of an all-white wedding party. And, the young queen did indeed have exquisite taste.
Nothing whatsoever.
Or, possibly, it symbolize's the bride's susceptability to the lure of fashion, which has mandated the "white wedding dress" for the last half-century at least.
It is true, that it started with Queen Victoria. Before her, queens and princesses wore royal blue and purple and cloth of silver and gold. And it did indeed take a long time to catch on: most brides simply wore their "Sunday Best" dress, and even when they purchased a new "wedding dress" it was often dark-coloured.
It is also true that it did not symbolize purity, but it wasn't about wealth either. In that day every maiden in England who had more than one dress had a white linen or muslin dress. While white does get dirty, in a pre-industrial age it is also relatively easy to clean: you wash it in boiling water with lye soap and bleach it by drying in the sun. Pre-industrial dyes would run and fade when subjected to such harsh treatment. Victoria's white dress was the talk of her subjects, not because it was flamboyant, but because after the excesses of the Regency era it was a fresh breath of simplicity and egalitarianism. It was also an economic and nationalistic statement, since it featured all-British manufacture and flaunted British-made lace in support of the flagging lace industry.
But it may not have been a political statement at all. In her journal, Her Majesty herself merely said that she liked the picturesque appearance of an all-white wedding party. And, the young queen did indeed have exquisite taste.
When during the REGENCY period should I base my story on?
J.Welkin
My story is a rather dark and gothic sort of tale.....but I don't want it to be set in the Victorian era when the Gothic stories usually are set. And I don't want it to be set in the Pride and Prejudice period when everything seemed rather bright and jaunty. Should I set it during the earl 1800s?? Perhaps, 1801?? The fashion is very important....
Answer
I agree. Aim for the turn of the 19th centry. Clothing would have been more of a "Gothic" style then 10 or maybe even 5 years later. The styles of the Revolutionary War could still be seen in the clothes, except the waistline of lady's dresses was starting to rise up the torso, and the hairstyles were still tall wigs (except they were usually natural colors, not white), and men's clothing was much the same as in Revolutionary times, except the hairstyles were changing and sideburns started appearing. I think it's a perfect time for a dark tale to be spun. =)
I agree. Aim for the turn of the 19th centry. Clothing would have been more of a "Gothic" style then 10 or maybe even 5 years later. The styles of the Revolutionary War could still be seen in the clothes, except the waistline of lady's dresses was starting to rise up the torso, and the hairstyles were still tall wigs (except they were usually natural colors, not white), and men's clothing was much the same as in Revolutionary times, except the hairstyles were changing and sideburns started appearing. I think it's a perfect time for a dark tale to be spun. =)
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