Did you get invited to a Regency Ball? Not sure what to wear? I’m here to help. First and foremost, dress in a way that makes you feel good. Remember you will be dancing, if you want, so make sure you can walk and move your arms in whatever you pick.
What should I wear?
The Regency clothing era is widely considered 1795 and 1837. During this time the clothing worn had a distinct style from the surrounding time periods. Your closet may already have what you need.
Feminine
A long dress (ankle length ideally) with an empire waist. If you have a long dress with no waistline, you can tie a ribbon under bust to give the illusion of an empire waisted dress. White and pastels were very common, but most popular among young unmarried ladies. Older women and married women often wore much more colorful outfits to show off their wealth. So don’t feel restricted by color.
For dancing you might prefer a short-sleeved dress, as was more in fashion for balls, but long sleeves are also ok, and perfect for day looks.
Here is a a bit more feminine information for the costume nerds, like myself. As the regency clothing era moved from 1790s to 1830 clothing, the silhouette shifted. Early on the Greek/Roman look was popular with outfits resembling statues. The waistline was a bit above the natural waist, but not super high yet. I really like wearing this look even though it is not a popular reenactor style, it is very period appropriate plus It’s forgiving and comfortable. In the photo below I am on the left wearing this earlier style.
In the same photo on the right, my friend is wearing a blue dress. Those puffed sleeves, higher waistline, and detailing around the hem are near the end of the era. All of it is appropriate at a regency ball.
To show you some variety, in the image below I am wearing the same dark purple piece over a white woven shirt. It should be a dress, but no one can tell that it’s not. I added some feathers to my hair for some added flair and because it was so hot.
Adding accessories can also be fun. Shawls were super popular, as were reticules (small purses) and fancy hats or decorated turbans. In the photos that are part of the masculine section, you can see lots of different hair styles and decorations that their dance partners were wearing.
Masculine
When I think of regency menswear, a peacock certainly comes to mind. Thought not everyone dressed in that way. So don’t be afraid of color and flair, but it’s also ok to be a bit more tame.
Menswear over the years have made smaller changes than women’s wear, so you might have something in your closet that will do the trick. A white or pastel colored dress shirt, long dark dress pants, and a vest (waistcoat) of any color or pattern are the basics.
Want to get even closer? Pop your collar up and add a white or colorful neckcloth to add some flair (leave your collar up) A long rectangle of fabric works well for this. You may be able to raid a friends silk scarf stash. A tie or can work, deepening on how you wrap it.
Pants could be long or knee length breaches. They were generally dark in color for the evening, but in the day grey and tan can be seen. There are always exceptions, like military uniforms, so wear what you have and like.
Vests were often colorful and elaborately decorated. Be the peacock, show off! The vest you have will not be too fancy and crazy. More subdued vests were also very common especially on older men.
Evening Jackets/Suitcoats were a staple of Regency era, but our modern jackets don’t look quite right at night, but can pass for day wear if not overly large. If you have a tail coat already, you are amazing and should totally wear it. Otherwise you can leave that part off. You will likely find dancing in it too warm.
You are ready to go! Here are some photos from a regency dance I ran. You can see lots of variation. The easiest thing to do is pop your collar and wear a neck cloth. It really changes the whole look. If you have longer hair on top on your head, which is pretty fashionable in 2024 when I writing this, you are very regency stylish. Ruffle up that hair and pull it forward from the crown. The bigger and messier the better.
Have a question? Hit me up! theninja@fabricninja.com.
Want to have your own regency ball? Learn more here!.