Love those elegant scenes of Regency Balls in Pride and Prejudice? What about the glam hair-dos, the sparkling jewels and modish accessories? How did the ladies back then get themselves ready beforehand? How long did it take? Read on, for an excerpt from Before the Season Ends to glimpse one young lady’s preparations for just such a ball, and see for yourself. (Hint: It wasn’t fast, cheap, or easy!)

If you are a woman and attended a High School prom (here in the States), you can easily imagine the sort of feeling a young regency miss would have before her first ball. Perhaps before each and every succeeding one, too!

For the Bennet girls, a ball was especially exciting, for it wasn’t something that took place often in Longbourne. Prior notice of the event was essential so that ladies and gentlemen had enough time to prepare for it. Which brings us back to our question: What sort of preparation was needed?

The answer is that you needed to be ready in two ways:

• With the proper clothing, and,
• With an adequate knowledge of how to do the latest dances.

For this article we will discuss the first concern: Costume, and the ladies “toilette.”

First and foremost would be the question of what to wear. A Ball required full dress, the components of which were as follows:

• A short-sleeved, low-necked gown, usually white or light-colored. The dress would naturally have an empire-waist (right beneath the bust). It could be ornamented, layered, embroidered, frilled with lace, etc.
• A pair of genteel “slippers” for the feet, often made of satin, silk or some other light material
• Implicit beneath it all was proper underclothing, such as a chemise, stays, and perhaps a petticoat, as well as stockings.
• Hair done up in a modish style, ornamented, or braided, or bearing an elegant tiara or headdress or ribbons
• Jewellery was appropriate here, if not actually required. Ladies commonly wore necklaces, bracelets, armlets, “ear-rings,” brooches, tiaras, or, for royals, coronets; Not to mention other jeweled hair ornaments, fans, lorgnettes, or seals. Rings were often worn over the gloves, so they would be seen.
• A pair of ball-room gloves, three-quarter length (past the elbow) should be worn.

Now that we know what a lady needed to wear to a ball, let us move on to watching her at her “toilette.” The following is an excerpt from my regency Inspirational Romance, Before the Season Ends. Ariana Forsythe is getting ready for an evening party at which there will be dancing. In other words, a ball! Here is our upclose look at the rigors of her preparations:

“At length Mrs. Bentley sought out Ariana to direct her remaining hours in preparations for the ball that night. It seemed outlandish, but she insisted Ariana soak in a hot tub, and then quickly into and out of a cold one. She called this “polishing the skin.”
Harrietta, the lady’s maid, then took over, trimming the nails on Ariana’s feet and hands, and supplying her with an enormous array of vials and lotions, perfumes and powders and other solutions. Some were for her face and neck, others for her hands, elbows, and even her feet!

Later Ariana was allowed a small meal, followed by tea. Then, to her surprise, Mrs. Bentley announced it was time to “earnestly prepare for the evening.” Ariana had to wonder what they had been doing all along, if not earnestly preparing for the evening!

They fussed over her hair, her chemise, her stockings, her gown.  Mrs. Bentley had insisted upon a small corset, or stays. Only wantons, she declared, did without them. But now she decided it needed to be tightened, and the gown was promptly removed; the stays were tightened, more so than mama had ever insisted upon, and Ariana felt sure she would have to adjust to breathing differently.

Once satisfied, they pulled the gown carefully back over Ariana’s head and arms and smoothed it into place.

By the time the two women had finished pulling, pinching, poking and pressing, Ariana felt more than ready to face the ‘Paragon‘. Her hair was coifed elegantly atop her head, with curled tendrils about her face. (Ariana wished she had jet black hair, but Mama said her lighter tresses matched the light in her eyes, and indeed, this night her words rang true.) Ariana was a picture of sparkling, beauteous youth.

Still, Mrs. Bentley insisted upon loaning her a matching set of jewels consisting of a necklace, earrings, brooch and bracelet. And, as a last dignifying element, a tiara: a delicate, lightly embellished headpiece, which was placed gingerly over her head and fastened into place with pins.

When at last she stood quietly resplendent in a pale pink gown of satin and net, with elegant white gloves that reached past her elbows and pale pink satin slippers upon her feet, even Mrs. Bentley had to smile. “You do me credit, my gel,” she said, almost affectionately. “Even Mornay will be smitten, I daresay, eh, Harrietta?”

“Oh, yes, ma’am!” breathed Harrietta, fully as pleased with the way Ariana had turned out as her mistress. “So tall and strikin’ as miss is, just like a princess!” Ariana’s aunt smiled. “I thought at first you were too tall,” she admitted, “but it turns out that ‘tall’ can be ‘statuesque’ as well!” Ariana was bustled out of the room and downstairs, to wait for Mr. Mornay in the parlour.”

Excerpt taken from, Before the Season Ends, a regency inspirational romance.

Did you enjoy this brief glimpse into Regency life? For more articles like this one, sign up for Linore’s mailing list at her website. You’ll also get her monthly regency e-magazine, Upon My Word! For Free!

Linore Rose Burkard is the creator of ‘Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul.’ Her books give readers a sense of traveling back in time to Jane Austen’s regency world, while discovering that happy endings are possible for everyone!

“Preparing for the Ball”

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Hosting an English Tea with your book club can be a fun and tasty way to liven up your next meeting. If you need recipe ideas, visit www.LinoreRoseBurkard.com for a free resource called “Regency Recipes.” Ideally, try to get several group members to volunteer and bake or bring an appropriate “goodie” for the Tea. Great examples include scones, English biscuits (ie., cookies), a tea cake, plus anything you like, will do, so long as there is a fun array to choose from.

Consider the following ideas as optional. Depending on how authentic or fancy you want to be, choose whatever will help you meet your goal of creating a fun historical experience. You’ll find more ideas below than you need. But, don’t worry, a teapot and something tasty to drink is the bare necessity, along with an English tea. After that, it’s all icing.

* Ask for a volunteer to bring a fancy tablecloth; lace, faux lace, even vinyl lace, or any white or light-colored cloth. Damask, sateen, or a lace cloth over a dark one are all pretty. Avoid a loud or colourful print as it will detract from the beauty of your elegant teapots and accessories.

* Make your party a “bring your own” favourite tea cup and saucer. The daintier and prettier, the better. Make sure that if someone doesn’t have their own to bring, that there will be extras for use.

* Same for teapots. Avoid using one large, boring stainless steel urn. If someone happens to own an elegant tea urn, wonderful. If not, most women hang on to a pretty teapot or two. This is the perfect occasion to take them out and put them to good use!

* Use linen or fancy white napkins.

* Sugar and cream should be served from a handsome set, never the containers they are bought in.

* An old-fashioned epergne would sit well in the middle of the table (see picture on LinoreRoseBurkard.com). However, a modern three-tiered dessert server can be substituted quite satisfactorily.

* If evening gloves are available (and this is just for fun) wear them when pouring your tea. You’ll be amazed at what a different feeling this will lend to the whole affair!

* A small dish of lemon slices is fine to have on hand

The most important element of the affair is to have fun, to enjoy some light refreshments, fellowship, and a good book discussion. If preparations for the tea get troublesome, forget the idea of doing it up pretty, or elegantly, and just make some tea! Serve a store-bought cake, relax and enjoy!

What to Serve:

For groups who wish to be more authentic, serve an English brand of tea. If you have the time and inclination, there are English stores in the US, and if one isn’t near you, you can mail-order supplies. A few resources are listed below for your convenience.

Your browser may not support display of this image. Suggested teas:

* English Breakfast
* Earl Grey
* Lady Grey

Suggested refreshments:

* Scones
* English biscuits
* A tea cake
* Seed cakes
* An English Trifle
* Crumpets

Suggested Accompaniments:

* Your browser may not support display of this image. Strawberry or Raspberry or Blackberry Jam
* Real Cream
* A Fruit Salad

Mail Order Sites for English Goods:

* www.britsuperstore.com
* www.britishfoodshop.com

Once everyone is seated and taken their first choice of refreshment, enjoy discussing my Regency romance novels. You can find questions in the back of the book, or visit the Reader Resources page of my website.

Enjoy!

About the Author:
Linore Rose Burkard writes Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul. Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the Regency in England (circa 1800 – 1830). Ms. Burkard’s novels include Before the Season Ends and The House in Grosvenor Square (coming April, 2009). Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency. Experience a romantic age, where timeless lessons still apply to modern life. And, enjoy a romance that reminds you happy endings are possible for everyone. For more information, visit: www.LinoreRoseBurkard.com