Outer garments
Topic 24 · 15 responses · archived october 2000
~Linda409
Sat, Nov 30, 1996 (14:53)
seed
Before I get to the subject, please let me share this with you. Yesterday, I finally got my dear friend Barbra to watch P&P2 with me. She's never read the book and had only seen the first episode. We had a discussion after each tape and, as I expected, she was very perceptive and shared many of the opinions of the participants of this BB.
Now, hold on to your chair or whatever is near so that you won't fall to the floor. She didn't like Darcy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, except when he is wet.
After we viewed all 6 hours, I talked to her at length, pointing out nuances that she had missed or misinterpreted. And, I read passages from the book to support my defense. She is beginning to come around now. I think that she may be a potential addict; she expressed an interest in reading P&P and in seeing P&P1.
Now to the subject. Barbra noticed whenever the Bennet girls go out wearing outer garments, that all the sisters wear cloaks, except Lizzy. The first example is when they walk to Meryton and are introduced to Wickham; there are a couple of other examples that I can't remember right now. Do you think that there is any significance to this??
Linda
~Donna
Tue, Dec 3, 1996 (11:08)
#1
Lizzie is like my childern. She dosen't need warm cloaks to keep her warm. They all always underdressed for the weather.
Even when she got married she didn't wear a cloak. Oh but, Mr. Darcy was there, he would keep her warm, I am sure being in that carriage would be like riding a bike,the wind blowing in your face, Burrr! very cold indeed.
~Anna
Tue, Dec 3, 1996 (13:26)
#2
I wondered how much Lizzy's lack of insulation in P&P2 reflected Ehle's taste; she implied in "The Making of P&P" that she didn't like being heavily dressed.
~norma
Wed, Dec 18, 1996 (11:08)
#3
Like Donna, I was troubled by Lizzy's lack of a cloak in the carriage scene after the wedding. Jane is wearing a cloak. The carriage is open, and the season is winter. Very cold indeed!
~amy2
Wed, Dec 18, 1996 (13:10)
#4
Ladies, let's talk d�colletage. How true to the period were the lowcut gowns in P&P2? Was this something done to make the production more "sexy" or was this in fact the fashion of the day? Enquiring minds want to know!
~Amy
Wed, Dec 18, 1996 (15:56)
#5
I think it's real, Amy. Henry some Regency fashion plate somewhere on his page, and links to other sources I think.
~Amy
Wed, Dec 18, 1996 (15:58)
#6
I think it's real, Amy. Henry has some Regency fashion plates somewhere on his page, and links to other sources I think. Jane Info page off links link here.
~Anna
Wed, Dec 18, 1996 (16:17)
#7
I had the impression that the low-cut dresses were usually kept for the evening, and with candlelight only the effect would have been less marked. Dresses in paintings I've seen were more like those in Persuasion; higher cut in the day, decolletage at night.
~amy2
Wed, Dec 18, 1996 (17:07)
#8
Interesting. You'll note that even at breakfast, Lydia was definitely wearing some lowcut frocks. Ditto other cast members.
~Amy
Wed, Dec 18, 1996 (17:09)
#9
Was it in P&P1 that such a big deal was made of "tucking lace?"
~jane
Wed, Dec 18, 1996 (17:44)
#10
I suspect that some of the ladies were wearing their Wonder-corsets under their nighties. Maybe I'm just envious of those figures.
And yes, Amy, I do remember that Lydia had much trouble with her lace in P&P1, though Jane and Lizzie of course managed to hang on to theirs.
Jane
~Anna
Wed, Dec 18, 1996 (17:45)
#11
I must admit that in P&P2 I thought the decolletage was intended to hold the attention of the male viewers (tv audience that is) rather than the male characters; they needed someting to look at while we were admiring thighs...
yes it was in P&P1 that lace was tucked, I thought it a wonderful touch; very much in character for Lydia and her mother (I loved the line about Charlotte not needing to tuck lace)
~churchh
Wed, Dec 18, 1996 (19:13)
#12
http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~churchh/ppbrokil.html
~amy2
Thu, Dec 19, 1996 (10:53)
#13
And when Lydia's lace slipped in P&P1, as I recall, Mrs. Bennett remarked to Mary something on the lines of: "Don't worry about Lydia. Lydia looks very well."
I agree with Anna -- I think a lot of the daytime decolletage was something of a BBC Hollywood touch. . .
~Donna
Thu, Dec 19, 1996 (11:43)
#14
If you are able to get "The Illustrated Letters of Jane Austen." You will see that the bosom was shown as a place for adorement. Quote "I have lower the bosom especially at the corners, and plaited black satin ribbon round the top." Jane Austen Henrietta St.March 9,1814 page 114. She said she would wear this gauzy gown today nothing about the time of day.
~Donna
Thu, Dec 19, 1996 (11:48)
#15
One more thing she said was " long sleeves and all: I shall see how they succeed, but as yet I have no reason to suppose long sleeves are allowable."