Thank you, Suzan Lauder, for sharing the details of the gowns, the places where each was worn, and an occasional hint about the scene. I'm glad you took the risk of being chastised, but you will not receive any chastisement from me! I loved this post!
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The Gowns of The Mist of Her Memory
At the risk of being chastised for descriptions of lace related to
a mystery and suspense novel, I would like to share Elizabeth’s gowns from The Mist of her Memory. Three evening gowns make centre stage: one for
the ball where Darcy and Elizabeth meet after a seemingly never-ending
separation, one for their engagement reception at the Bingley town house, and a
final ball gown for the closing chapter of the story. In addition, there are
two morning gowns mentioned that I’ll share.
A November 1813 fashion plate inspired the ball gown that excited
Darcy’s “manly parts” at the ball when he saw Elizabeth across the room because
the colour in The Mist of her Memory was close to Elizabeth’s skin colour. The inspiration for a brief, flesh-toned dress as an enticement to the male protagonist comes from “Sex and the City.”
The Ackermann’s Repository for Art plate for the blossom-coloured and white-trimmed original is shown here. The hairstyle is irregular curls, just how Elizabeth likes hers.
The Ackermann’s Repository for Art plate for the blossom-coloured and white-trimmed original is shown here. The hairstyle is irregular curls, just how Elizabeth likes hers.
In a pivotal chapter, the Bingleys are hosting the entire Bennet family for shopping to prepare for Elizabeth and Darcy’s wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Bingley hold a large dinner party at their rented house in town to celebrate Darcy and Elizabeth’s engagement. Shown is Elizabeth’s pea-green evening dress with beaded and silver netting trim at the centre back, bottom of the sleeves, and round the feet. It is from October 1813, so Elizabeth is quite in fashion in the chapter that takes place in April.
At the end of the novel, the mystery has been solved, the Darcys are married, and they are about to attend the final ball of the 1813 Season. Elizabeth’s fashionable gown from June of that year is described by Rudolf Ackermann as a “Grecian round robe, of lilac or apple-blossom crape, worn over a white satin petticoat.” I’ve always loved Van Dyke lace, and the beaded trim and Kashmir shawl on this drawing won me over. Elizabeth is very much a fan of the short Circassian sleeves as well, though she leaves the turban to Miss Bingley and shows off her chestnut curls.
When Elizabeth is hurt, Darcy can’t see the extent of her injuries since she’s well-covered with a morning gown. It’s actually a promenade dress, since she’s intending to go out walking with her aunt and uncle before she gets Jane’s letters. Ackermann’s Repository
of Art featured this costume in July 1812. It features waggoner’s sleeves and a high,
full-gathered collar, and a cottage vest with net and fringe. The vest is uniquely unconfined at the normal empire waist band.
While newlyweds Elizabeth and Darcy each read their letters in August of 1813, she is wearing a very pretty round robed morning dress that Darcy considers removing. It has a little fringed cape that does nothing to hide her figure from him! There’s a funny out-of-scale puppy in the Ackermann’s plate from May 1813, and I think Elizabeth is more of a cat person. But Elizabeth is leaning against her writing table just with a drooping curl over her eye from under her Brussels lace cap just like in the epilogue of The Mist of her Memory. I’ve made the gown primrose coloured in the story.
of Art featured this costume in July 1812. It features waggoner’s sleeves and a high,
full-gathered collar, and a cottage vest with net and fringe. The vest is uniquely unconfined at the normal empire waist band.
While newlyweds Elizabeth and Darcy each read their letters in August of 1813, she is wearing a very pretty round robed morning dress that Darcy considers removing. It has a little fringed cape that does nothing to hide her figure from him! There’s a funny out-of-scale puppy in the Ackermann’s plate from May 1813, and I think Elizabeth is more of a cat person. But Elizabeth is leaning against her writing table just with a drooping curl over her eye from under her Brussels lace cap just like in the epilogue of The Mist of her Memory. I’ve made the gown primrose coloured in the story.
Thanks to Janet for your indulgence in this favourite pastime of mine: costuming
for Jane Austen’s times and to Claudine for organizing this blog post for us.
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for Jane Austen’s times and to Claudine for organizing this blog post for us.
Author Bio:
About the Author
A lover of Jane Austen, Regency period research and costuming, cycling, yoga, blogging,and independent travel, cat mom Suzan Lauder is seldom idle.
Her first effort at a suspense novel, The Mist of her Memory is the fifth time Lauder has
been published by Meryton Press. Her earlier works include a mature Regency romance
with a mystery twist, Alias Thomas Bennet; a modern short romance Delivery Boy
in the holiday anthology Then Comes Winter, the dramatic tension-filled Regency romance
Letter from Ramsgate, and the Regency romantic comedy, A Most Handsome Gentleman.
been published by Meryton Press. Her earlier works include a mature Regency romance
with a mystery twist, Alias Thomas Bennet; a modern short romance Delivery Boy
in the holiday anthology Then Comes Winter, the dramatic tension-filled Regency romance
Letter from Ramsgate, and the Regency romantic comedy, A Most Handsome Gentleman.
She and Mr. Suze and two rescue cats split their time between a loft condo overlooking
the Salish Sea and a 150 year old Spanish colonial home near the sea in Mexico.
the Salish Sea and a 150 year old Spanish colonial home near the sea in Mexico.
Suzan’s lively prose is also available to her readers on her blog, road trips
with the redhead www.suzan.lauder.merytonpress.com,
on her facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/SuzanLauder,
on Twitter @suzanlauder, and on Instagram as Suzan Lauder. She is a lifetime
member of JASNA.
with the redhead www.suzan.lauder.merytonpress.com,
on her facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/SuzanLauder,
on Twitter @suzanlauder, and on Instagram as Suzan Lauder. She is a lifetime
member of JASNA.
~~~
Author Links:
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The Mist of Her Memory Blog Tour Schedule
May 7 / Just Romantic Suspense / Book Excerpt
May 8 / Austenesque Reviews / Vignette Post
May 9 / My Jane Austen Book Club / Book Excerpt
May 10 / From Pemberley to Milton / Guest Post
May 11 / More Agreeably Engaged / Guest Post
May 12 / Half Agony, Half Hope / Book Review
May 13 / Babblings of a Bookworm / Character Interview
May 14 / Just Jane 1813 / Author Interview
May 15 / My Vices and Weaknesses / Book Excerpt
May 16 / Diary of an Eccentric / Book Review
Thank you for the interesting post, Suzan. I enjoyed reading about the different dresses in your book and it was fun seeing the drawings that depicted those dresses. The Mist of Her Memory kept me guessing and I loved it. Congratulations on the release and best wishes. Thank you to Meryton Press for the generous giveaway and to Claudine Pepe for organizing the blog tour.
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Giveaways
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Giveaways
Meryton Press is offering eight eBooks copies of The Mist of Her Memory. Thank you for your support with these giveaways. The giveaway runs until midnight, May 19, 2019.
Terms and Conditions:
Readers may enter the drawing by tweeting once a day and daily commenting on a blog post or a review that has a giveaway attached for the tour. Entrants must provide the name of the blog where they commented. If an entrant does not do so, that entry will be disqualified.
One winner per contest. Each winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter and the giveaway is international.
As much as I like the gowns I do wonder how much dirt the hems collect, especially the trailing hems
ReplyDeleteI bet they would collect some dirt, Vesper! lol
DeleteI dress for Austen-related events and I must say, the short trains have to be picked up and carried behind the wearer out of doors. Good that there are lots of layers underneath. Thanks for the comment, Vesper.
DeleteI loved seeing the gowns you envisioned on Elizabeth during your story! I especially liked that one of them was inspired by "Sex and the City." It's amazing what can spur your creativity. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing the gowns too. I always enjoy reading the descriptions of them in stories and imagining what they looked like. Glad you stopped by.
DeleteI originally described it as not knowing where the dress ended and her skin started. I have a copy of Susanna Ellis's "Ackermann's Repository Fashion Prints 1800-1814" that I get lost in.
DeleteBeautiful dresses! Thanks for sharing your inspiration!
ReplyDeleteHi Regina. Aren't the dresses beautiful! Can you imagine someone making all these lovelies by hand? That would take a talented seamstress. I've made a couple myself, but not all by hand! :)
DeleteI love the Regency gowns! I'm like Janet--I don't hand sew them. Mine are costuming, not reproductions.
DeleteSuch lovely gowns! Although I can’t see Darcy permitting Elizabeth to cover her hair with a lace cap, I’m not a fan of them either.
ReplyDeleteThis book is top of my list for my next shopping spree, thank you for the wonderful illustrations.
It's hard to think Darcy would want Lizzy to cover her hair with a lace cap, isn't it. I'm happy that is no longer the style! lol
DeleteA lace cap is an underrated fashion accessory. It's handy to keep your hair from getting bed-headed and then before you have the time to get your hair done in a fancy Regency up-do. I have short, curly hair. I like the lace cap because it hides that I don't have an up-do! Then all I do is centre part my hair and let some ringlets hang out of the cap.
DeleteThat's a good thought, Suzan. I'll have to remember that. It probably helped a lot in Regency times.
DeleteHaving a vivid imagination when reading, I love the detail and description given. I love JA and have nothing but praise for all the authors that have taken her characters down a different road. Your book is on the list to be bought (TBB) when I can fee up $ from other obligations. I wish ylou nothing but the best of success.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that someone else loves those descriptions too. :) Thanks for visiting and commenting Christa.
DeleteWith any luck, you'll win the giveaway, Christa. I'm glad you plan to read this book. I think it's one of my best.
DeleteSounds like a very good mystery with my favourite couples. All the five fashion plates are beautiful to look out. Thank you for showing us how Elizabeth would wear in The Mist of Her Memory, Suzan. Without them I would feel lost because I'm not very imaginative and prefer images to guide me along.
ReplyDeleteAren't they beautiful to look at. I love them. I won a plate in some giveaway years ago. Abigail Reynolds sent it to me. I was so proud of it! :)
DeleteI love to look at pictures, and the descriptions alone never do as well as artwork. Thanks, Lúthien!
DeleteI simply love reading descriptions of the gowns in Almacks. So often they have no description when you see them. I am also looking forward to reading this story! Suzan can really weave a tale.
ReplyDeleteYes, she can weave a tale and this one is no exception. I love those descriptions too, Brenda. I'm so glad you stopped by. Thanks for commenting and good luck!
DeleteAw, Brenda, thanks so much for the lovely comment!
ReplyDeleteThose are beautiful dresses. Thankbl you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAren't they gorgeous! I love them. Glad you stopped by, Debbie.
DeleteI adore them. Thanks, Deborah Ann.
DeleteI just love the Regency style of dress and to have such lovely visuals to go with the book is wonderful. Looking forward to reading this book and thank you for a chance at the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHi Carole. I'm thinking of printing these to go with the book. Wouldn't that be neat! Good luck in the giveaway.
DeleteIt's such a soft yet figure enhancing profile. It's too bad I didn't think of having them put into the book. I wish you luck, Carole!
DeleteI loved the drawings and getting to see what gowns Elizabeth wears in the story makes it so much easier to visualize.
ReplyDeleteThanks, darcybennet. I agree, the artwork from Ackermann's makes them much easier to visualize. In the book, I took aspects of them and described them to suit the scene. They're short and don't take away from all the suspense and action and D&E lovey-dovey scenes.
DeleteLove the images. I can't imagine Elizabeth with some of the head pieces though... :)
ReplyDeleteFYI - I'm not sure why but I can't post a comment & sign in on my mobile device.
Yes, she left that turban to Caroline. Thanks, Dung. Sorry about the phone!
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