Daisy Gold and USC Red Spencer

1811 Regency Ensemble Fabrics

At my whirlwind trip thru downtown LA in January, I couldn’t resist picking up some silk for a new spencer. I must have a new outfit for my attendance at Jane Fest in April and it WILL be accompanied by a spencer.

My friend and mentor, lana/Lily, and I kept coming across the same shades of yellow in the available silk taffetas. When the time came to finally decide on a color, the gold just screamed 18th Century and would be delightful as a spencer jacket. (Of course, it would also make a stunning robe a la francaise too. But that’s for another day…)

Isn’t it brilliant? Love it.

So the next step to this new garment is researching a design. I rely heavily on period fashion plates and existing garments, as well as movie costumes, to inspire my costumes.

Here are the books I initially looked thru for inspiration.

Costume in Detail 1730-1930 by Nancy Bradfield

Costume in Detail

Four Hundred Years of Fashion published by the Victoria & Albert Museum

Nineteenth-Century Fashion in Detail by Lucy Johnston

Costume Through the Ages by Erhard Klepper

But as I decided on this with it’s lovely pompoms…

V&A Green Spencer w-Pompoms

Then I found a buried photo of two ensembles from the movie Persuasion.

Gold & Green Spencers from Persuasion
Gold & Green Spencers from Persuasion

Ah! It’s a gold spencer. Velvet, but it’s gold and looks so lovely over the white sheer dress.

And on closer inspection, it’s made with a red piping along the CF and collar with tiny red buttons. I’m sold.

So off to my stash I go ’cause I KNOW I have the perfect remnant of red silk satin.

It’s such gorgeous fabric! Left over from piping and lining I cut out for a shawl that has never been finished.

So what about this?

1811 Regency Ensemble Fabrics

I’m so excited to make this new spencer!

What colors have you made spencer jackets out of?

5 thoughts on “Daisy Gold and USC Red Spencer

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