Jane Austen was born 251 years ago, but her portrayals of relationships, class, and the everyday details of human life have never lost their appeal. Fans who celebrated last year’s re-release of the beloved 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice can now rejoice again with the official October release of Sense and Sensibility, starring Daisy Edgar Jones. The author’s return to theaters sent me into the Vogue Runway archive to see how contemporary designers keep returning to the airy silhouettes of Austen’s Regency era. In her time, neoclassical dress was distilled into light, straight-lined garments with empire waists (a reference to Napoleon). These high-waisted dresses with open necklines emphasized the décolleté or “Regency” shelf—as seen in the Vogue x Dôen collaboration—and they contrast with the structured, boxy silhouettes we see on runways today, though the fluid, slim suiting that has crept back in could make a case for the beautiful style’s return. What’s appealing about Regency style now is that it accommodates the natural body. Austen’s women might have worn corsets, but they weren’t tightly laced, and no crinolines or panniers kept them from getting through doors or walking on heaths. The author’s interest was not body modification, but transformations of the mind and heart, especially ones that make them open to love.White Neoclassical DressesColor and PrintDaring DamesThe EmbonpointSpencersEmpresses and Empire LinesDashing DarcysPresented by Estée Lauder
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs 61 RegencyStyle Runway Looks Celebrating Jane Austens Sense and Sensibility
1 What is this collection about
Its a fashion showcase of 61 runway looks inspired by the Regency era and the themes characters and style of Jane Austens novel Sense and Sensibility
2 Why 61 looks specifically
Its a curated number that allows the collection to explore the novels many characters scenes and emotional contrasts without repeating ideas
3 What is Regency style
The fashion of Britain in the late 1700s and early 1800s roughly 17951820 Its known for high waistlines columnlike silhouettes lightweight fabrics and neoclassical simplicity
4 How is this different from Victorian fashion
Regency came first and is much simpler Victorian fashion used corsets heavy fabrics bustles and lots of trim Regency looks are lighter and more fluid
5 Why connect Sense and Sensibility to a runway show
The novel is about two sisterspractical Elinor and emotional Marianne Designers can express those opposing personalities through fabric color and silhouette
6 What does sense look like in the designs
Restrained structured muted looksthink tailored spencer jackets clean lines and subdued colors like cream gray and navy
7 What does sensibility look like
Flowing romantic dramatic piecesthink trailing shawls soft pastels floral details and fabrics that move with the body
8 What are the most common Regency elements used
Empire waistlines high bustlines column skirts pelisses spencers reticules long gloves and shawls
9 Whats an empire waistline
A waistline placed just under the bust instead of at the natural waist Its the signature feature of Regency dress
10 Whats a spencer jacket
A short fitted jacket that ends above the waist worn over dresses during the Regency period
11 Whats a pelisse
A long coatlike outer garment often worn open or buttoned that was popular in the Regency era