When: Saturday September 15, 2018 at 1 pm
Where: Pittsford Barnes and Noble, Community Room
Let other pens dwell on the fashions of the
Regency. I certainly do not find the topic odious in any way, but I know better
than to write on something about which I know very little. Fashion is much too important a part of Jane Austen's work to leave it in inexpert hands. Lisa will provide us with a sumptuous view of the fashions relevant to Persuasion.
Perhaps we will hear about a pelisse or a gown:
“"How is Mary looking?" said Sir Walter, in the
height of his good humour. "The last time I saw her she had a red nose,
but I hope that may not happen every day."
"Oh! no, that must have been quite accidental. In
general she has been in very good health and very good looks since
Michaelmas."
"If I thought it would not tempt her to go out in sharp
winds, and grow coarse, I would send her a new hat and pelisse."
Anne was considering whether she should venture to suggest that a gown, or a cap, would not be liable to any such misuse, when a knock at the door suspended everything. Persuasion chapter 15
Or, maybe about boots:
"The rain was a mere trifle, and Anne was most sincere in
preferring a walk with Mr. Elliot. But the rain was also a mere trifle to Mrs.
Clay; she would hardly allow it even to drop at all, and her boots were so
thick! much thicker than Miss Anne's..." Persuasion chapter 19
However, it must be acknowledged that the most pivotal
moment in the book revolves around an article of men’s clothing, a pair of
gloves in fact.
“Mrs. Croft left them, and Captain Wentworth, having sealed
his letter with great rapidity, was indeed ready, and had even a hurried,
agitated air, which shewed impatience to be gone. Anne know not how to
understand it. She had the kindest "Good morning, God bless you!"
from Captain Harville, but from him not a word, nor a look! He had passed out
of the room without a look!
She had only time, however, to move closer to the table
where he had been writing, when footsteps were heard returning; the door
opened, it was himself. He begged their pardon, but he had forgotten his
gloves, and instantly crossing the room to the writing table, he drew out a
letter from under the scattered paper, placed it before Anne with eyes of
glowing entreaty fixed on her for a time, and hastily collecting his gloves,
was again out of the room, almost before Mrs. Musgrove was aware of his being
in it: the work of an instant!
The revolution which one instant had made in Anne, was
almost beyond expression. The letter, with a direction hardly legible, to
"Miss A. E.--," was evidently the one which he had been folding so
hastily.” Persuasion chapter 23.
Perhaps the gloves looked like the pair worn by
this gentleman.
At any rate the question remains. Did Captain
Wentworth actually forget his gloves or was this merely a ruse de guerre?
Perhaps the gloves were left deliberately or maybe hidden up a sleeve. As a
frigate captain Wentworth would have been familiar with many stratagems to
cover his intentions. On the other hand, he was clearly in heavy weather with a lee shore emotionally.
Please join us for what promises to be a glorious show of Regency fashions.
