So, what does a Regency heiress wear?
That’s what my cover designer, Kim Killion of The Killion
Group, had to figure out when I asked her to create the cover for the second
book in my Grace-by-the-Sea series. The Heiress’s Convenient Husband
tells the story of outspoken Eva Faraday, orphaned daughter of a wealthy
financier. Eva’s father was a self-made man, and he never wanted his daughter
to lack for anything. As a result, Eva can have the most beautiful gowns and
the most expensive jewels. Except, she’s not that sort of girl. And her late
father tied up her inheritance until she reaches the age of 25 or marries, so
she’s living on pin money while the Earl of Howland acts as trustee over her
accounts and tries to force her to marry his heir.
Here’s how she described her recent clothing choices:
"Eva had always favored brighter colors, but the earl’s wife
had wrinkled her nose and declared that young ladies wore pastels. So, Eva had
promptly used her allotment of monthly pin money to buy a length of purple
satin, purple embroidered gauze, and a sash the color of the fuchsias in Kew
Garden. The countess had averted her eyes whenever Eva wore the outfit."
I hope you didn't avert your eyes!
The Heiress’s Convenient Husband is available for
preorder now as an ebook at fine online retailers (print book coming shortly):
The book arrives April 20,
2020.
2 comments:
The cover is pretty pretty - but- don't hate me- that purple is a little lurid for the Regency era. Dyes were made from plant materials until aniline dyes were invented in the 1860s. While purple and lilac were popular colors, the purple color tended to be more muted and dull.
https://sarahs-history-place.blogspot.com/2011/09/colours-used-in-regency-and-georgian.html
You can see some real life examples and fashion plates by searching "Regency era purple dress." Here's one from 1823 that is close to the color you want. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/61713457363493941/
vs. the Victorian analine purple
https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/aniline-dyes/
http://thedreamstress.com/2013/09/terminology-what-are-aniline-dyes-or-the-history-of-mauve-and-mauveine/
Yes I know only nerds like me will nitpick the details but Georgette Heyer set the bar REALLY high for nitpicky details!
Of course I don't hate you, QNPoohBear! I always appreciate your insights. I knew about the analine dyes. Sarah's History Place has some rather bright colors. And I was absolutely shocked to see the shades of yellow used in Sir John Soane's house in London. I had no idea Regency folks decorated that brightly, LOL!
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