On the streaming series, Bridgerton, starting in 1813, Great
Britain was under the reign of Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and King
George III (also known as Mad King George). In the series, Queen Charlotte was
the face of the crown, she was the one who debutantes presented to, and Her
Majesty was presented at various events for the royal family.
They King and Queen had 15 children in total, 13 of whom
survived to adulthood, two of whom were future British monarchs, George IV, and
William IV; as well as Charlotte, Princess Royal, who became Queen of
Württemberg; Prince Edward, the father of Queen Victoria; and Prince Ernest
Augustus, who became King of Hanover. Early in King George's reign, Great
Britain defeated France in the Seven Years' War, becoming the dominant
European power in North America and India. Further wars against revolutionary and Napoleonic
France from 1793 concluded in the defeat of Napoleon at
the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
Fashions of the Period
The fashion style between 1813 and 1815 was inspired by the classical
antiquity, modeled into the high-waisted neoclassical silhouette, increasingly
broken by trim, colors, and a new angularity as the tubular skirts were
gradually replaced by triangular versions. I focus on the women, because I am a
woman, and their clothes always fascinate me.
First was the shifts, or chemises, that were meant to
protect the rest of the undergarments from the body’s perspiration. Corsets
were necessary, yet unbelievably uncomfortable, made with whale bone, and
tightened to give women a more feminine figure. And then a petticoat, which was
a layer between the women’s clothing and underwear.
Clothes worn inside the home was called the morning dress, and lacked a whole lot of decoration, and was modest, simple, and hopefully comfortable. While, evening gowns were meant to be seen at parties, and were styled with more colors, accessories, and embellishments.
The classical influence extended to hairstyles. Often masses of curls were worn over the forehead and ears, with the longer back hair drawn up into loose buns or Psyche knots influenced by Greek and Roman styles. Here are some videos of modern versions of the styles I’ve been inspired by. This is just a small sample of the period, and culture in the early 1810’s.