Jane Austen wrote Pride and Prejudice between October 1796 and August 1797 when she was
twenty years old.
This was a time of rapid change in fashion, but stockings remained much the same.
Fashionable hair was still curly and full, and dressing it involved the elaborate use
of rags.
Ribbon garters held the stockings in place.
Shoes were now flat soled.
A simple shift was still worn beneath the stays, but the sleeves were much shorter,
and the stays had altered a great deal.
Stays were made of plain cotton or linen, were now very lightly boned and had risen
above the line of the waist.
They were still straight-laced through hand worked eyelets and could fasten at the front
or back.
Mini bustle pads are often present – these added a little lift to the raised back waistline
of the gown, and support for the fashionable sash so it didn’t slump down onto the waist.
These stays reflected a more natural body shape than the previous rigid stays, but were
a transitional and experimental phase of fashion, and no two pairs of surviving stays from this
period are exactly alike.
A full-length petticoat with a high waist was worn over the stays and fastened at the
back with ties.
A morning dress of informal loose fitting garments was often worn in the early part
of the day.
Before getting properly dressed.
Morning dress was usually white and often featured white-work embroidery and lace.
A day cap was worn over the hair as it was not dressed yet and might still be full of
rags.
Though loose fitting, morning dress still reflected the new fashionable high waisted
style, and it could be quite elaborate.
Coloured ribbons and sashes broke up the solid white look.
Breakfast could be taken in morning dress before formal dressing was complete.
After breakfast, they would return to their room to complete their dress and finish their
hair.
The fashionable gown, which was inspired by the classical silhouette, slipped over the
head and was fitted to the figure by means of drawstrings at the neck and under the bust…
My dear Jane, make haste and hurry down.
He is come — Mr. Bingley is come.
He is, indeed.
Make haste, make haste.
Here, Sarah, come to Miss Bennet this moment, and help her on with her gown.
Never mind Miss Lizzy’s hair.
We will be down as soon as we can, but I dare say Kitty is forwarder than either of us,
for she went upstairs half an hour ago.
Oh! hang Kitty!
what has she to do with it?
Come be quick, be quick!
Where is your sash, my dear?
Kitty!
Mary!
He is come!
What is the matter mamma?
What do you keep winking at me for?
What am I to do?
Nothing child, nothing.
I did not wink at you.
Come here, my loves, I want to speak to you
Lizzy, my dear, I want to speak with you.
We may as well leave them by themselves you know.
Kitty, Mary, and I are going up stairs to sit in my dressing-room.
’Tis too much! by far too much.
I do not deserve it.
Oh!
why is not everybody as happy?
I must go instantly to my mother; I would not on any account trifle with her affectionate
solicitude; or allow her to hear it from anyone but myself.
He is gone to my father already.
Oh!
Lizzy, to know that what I have to relate will give such pleasure to all my dear family!
how shall I bear so much happiness!
I am certainly the most fortunate creature that ever existed!
Oh!
Lizzy, why am I thus singled from my family, and blessed above them all!
If I could but see you as happy!
If there were but such another man for you!
If you were to give me forty such men, I never could be so happy as you.
Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness.
No, no, let me shift for myself; and, perhaps, if I have very good luck, I may meet with
another Mr. Collins in time.