Hello, Ladies!
It’s hard to believe that in just one week I’ll be in the UK! I have been planning towards this costume study trip for so long that I can hardly imagine I’m finally this close!
The trip will be costume-focused in a couple of ways – firstly, we will obviously be studying a lot of magnificent gowns in some of England’s finest museum collections. (The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Fashion Museum in Bath, and Kensington Palace, just to name a few.) And secondly, our group will be wearing a plethora of costumes, as well! For the last eight months I’ve been sewing on and off towards the Jane Austen Festival which will include a marvelous Regency ball held in the very Assembly Rooms that Jane Austen mentioned in her novels, as well as a lovely costumed promenade through the historic streets of Bath.
Here are a few of the things I’ll be seeing while I’m in England:
~ Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation gowns at Buckingham Palace
~ Queen Victoria’s silk wedding dress housed at Kensington
~ Evening gowns worn by Princess Diana
~ The actual filming location of “Longbourne” (the Bennet’s home) from the 1995 version of Pride & Prejudice, complete with a costumed supper in the dining room and Regency dancing afterwards!
~ A tour of “Pemberly” (Lyme Park), for which I have recreated an “Elizabeth Bennet” film costume to replicate some of my favorite shots from the film!
~ Westminster Abbey and St. Paul’s Cathedral, both famous sites of the renowned British royal weddings
~ Plus studying dozens of sumptuous court gowns and day dresses from the 1600s up to the 1900s…
I will try to blog just as often as I possibly can while I’m on the trip , and I’ll be taking hundreds of photos to share! Rest assured that if I can’t find time to chronicle all the goings-on while I’m in England, I will be sure to write much longer blog posts once I come back!
Well, before I go stuff all my dresses into my suitcase, here are a couple preview shots of just one of the Regency outfits I’ve sewn while it was under construction. Does anyone want to take a wild guess as to which Pride & Prejudice costume ensemble I’ve recreated?
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And here’s one last picture of a special hatbox I’ve decorated for carrying my Regency bonnets on the plane! I used pink spray paint on the top, “I Love Lucy” fabric for the sides, and sparkly pink ribbon for trim. I think it should hopefully keep my bonnets from getting “squashed”!
The next time I post here I will be in London. 🙂
Happy sewing!
Katrina
I’m so excited for you! Thanks in advance for sharing the adventure. I’m afraid that what I remember most from the V&A costume collection was seeing a little boy on a school trip (probably about 7 years old) laying on the floor and trying to look up a mannequin’s skirt!
Bon voyage! I’m sure it will be a wonderful and memorable trip. It’s been a while since I’ve watched P&P, so I have no guesses about your costume… but the ruching looks beautiful!
Oh, how fun to see Longbourne and {most importantly} Pemberly!!! 🙂 Is that brown smocked fabric for a Lizzy Bennet bonnet? When she is looking out over the countyside on the trip with the Gardiners? And the tan picture is the back of her Spencer? Have fun “across the pond”! 🙂
Wow! I’m going to kensington palace this month…what day are you planning visiting maybe we can meet up? I’m going to selfridges afterwards for afternoon tea (the only thing I can afford there. lol!)
Thank you, Jeri! Ha ha – oh my, that’s quite a funny memory to have from the V&A. 🙂 I guess the costume exhibit wouldn’t exactly thrill all school aged children (especially boys!). 🙂
Thank you so much, Laura! I’m sure the trip will be smashing, though I’ll probably be a little tired when I show up. 🙂
Kerry, yes! You nailed it. 🙂 That outfit that Elizabeth wore when she ran into Darcy at Pemberly is exactly the one I’ve recreated for the occasion, though I’ve also recreated a Georgiana Darcy dress, too.
LadyD, how neat that you’re going to Kensington, too! We will be there on Friday, September 20th in the morning. I’m not entirely sure what time we’ll be there (I think maybe between ten o’clock and noon?), but if you happen to be there at the same time it would be wonderful to meet you! 🙂
Happy sewing!
Katrina
Have a wonderful and blessed trip. I do so enjoy reading your blog and will indeed hold you up in prayer for s safe journey.
My 10 year old daughter and I cannot wait to read your blog posts!!!!
Have the time of your life!!
Cheers!
Kris
Thank you, Ladies! Kristen, I really appreciate the prayers! International jet-lag can take its toll quite often, so it makes me happy that people are praying. 🙂
Yay for you! I went to England this summer – you are going to have SO MUCH FUN.
Oh, what a wonderful trip! I hope everything goes well, and weather, etc. cooperates.
I am looking forward to lots of gorgeous pictures and fabulous stories about the trip!
Thank you, Wendy! I’ll be updating the blog really soon.
Lexi, that sounds wonderful! I’ll see you in about four days from now. 🙂
See you there!