Fashion Friday! The Spencer Jacket

I am finally back with a new blog and it's Friday; which means it's Fashion Friday!

I am in the process of putting together an outfit inspired by Jane Austen and the Regency Period of Fashion. Included in my outfit will be what is known as a Spencer, or Spencer Jacket.

The Regency Period of Fashion refers to the time period in England when Prince George was acting as Regent after his father King George III went insane in 1811.

The Spencer is named for George Spencer, 2nd Earl of Spencer (1758-1834)  The Earl supposedly stood a bit too close to the fire one day and singed the tails of his coat. He then had the tails of his coats trimmed and thus a new fashion was born. It was first worn by men in the 1790's and was usually trimmed with a military style decoration with braids and frogging.

                                                                   The Honorable 2nd Earl of Spencer by John Singleton Copley



Women's dress at this time was starting to shift to what is known as the "Empire Style" of dress. Their dresses were made from thin, lightweight material, usually Muslin, and often had short sleeves; even in winter. The Spencer was found to be a very serviceable garment to ward off the chill. 

"My kerseymere Spencer is quite the comfort of our evening walks." - Jane Austen 1808

It was a short, close fitted jacket, coming to just above the waist line with a high collar, and was usually made from a wool material known as kerseymere, or from velvet. As the waist line began to move down again in the 1820's-30's, the Spencer also moved down to follow the waist. They could button closed or could be worn open like a cardigan would be worn today. Military decor was still used on the female version of the Spencer as a way to add interest to an otherwise mundane and boring (most often all white or a very light color) dress. 

Spencers were so versatile and useful (unlike most of the clothing of the time) that they remained in fashion until the second decade of the nineteenth century. As fashion began to change once again the Spencer fell out of high fashion and thus into history.

I especially LOVE this particular Spencer sewn by American Duchess

For further reading/research on the Spencer or fashion in general, I suggest:

Fashion in the time of Jane Austen - Sarah Jane Downing

An Introduction to Ladies' Fashions of the Regency Era - Lord Scot

http://www.fashion-era.com/index.htm

http://historicalsewing.com/

There are also TONS of Pinterest boards!