Summertime, and the living was…well, a little uncomfortable.
When I think of summertime, I think of ceiling fans, eating Italian ice, running through the sprinkler, and wearing frilly sundresses and flip flops. But then Southern Connecticut had a heat wave for two days last week that knocked me on my sundress-clad bottom; and in a small house with no air conditioning there was little motivation for us to do much of anything that would, in the end, only serve to make us hotter and more miserable than we already were. My daughter and I spent some much needed quality time in the hammock beneath the shady lilac tree reading to each other, sketching, and drinking pink lemonade. I also spent a lot of time pondering just how uncomfortable the summer months must have felt to those who lived in the 19th century, rather than the 21st.
There were no sprinklers to run through in Regency England, and certainly no frilly sundresses and flip flops. A Regency lady, despite the hot weather, was dressed in layers at all times, beginning with a chemise, which was the only undergarment available at the time (panties did not arrive until the 20th century, and pantaloons were not en vogue until the Victorian era).
Constricting corsets, often with stiff whale boning, were worn over the chemise, followed by a gown. Gowns were at least ankle-length, although necklines varied from moderate to positively plunging. More often than not, there were sleeves of varying lengths…and stockings…and bonnets…and gloves…and slippers. Oftentimes, half boots.
Gentlemen had it no better. Linen shirts of varying lawns, waistcoats, topcoats, cravats, deerskin breeches, beaver hats, and riding boots (though dashing) were hardly comfortable in warmer weather.
And can you just imagine packing for a seaside vacation? Forget about packing light. Nothing less than a trunk or two would do for all of the garments a lady would need for her trip: morning gowns, gowns for afternoon wear, evening wear, ball gowns, slippers, etc., and, if one was so adventurous, a gown for sea bathing. The image to the right shows a lady wearing a gown that buttoned down the front, lace-trimmed pants, and laced sandals. Hardly your typical 21st century beach wear!
As much as I adore the Regency period and its fashions, I can’t help but appreciate the fact that, now-a-days, one can wear pretty much whatever makes one most comfortable, especially in the summertime when the weather is at its warmest. I don’t know about you, but I think I’d find a trip to the beach a bit lacking if propriety dictated I had to slosh through the surf in a gown and pantaloons! (But it would certainly be an effective preventative for sunburn, wouldn’t it?)
I hope you’re all enjoying your summer! Thank you so much for reading.
Best,
Susan
24 Responses to Summertime, and the living was…well, a little uncomfortable.
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This is interesting Ive always wondered about clothes of the past with the changing weather
Thank you, Patricia. I’ve always loved reading about clothing and fashions of old, especially as pertains to the regency period.
Wow, must have been horrible (we have a really hot day here today, I´feeling dizzy imagining having all these layers on
) – maybe thats why Mr. Darcy took a swim in the lake fully clothed after riding to Pemberley 
.
Katrin, we have a scorcher here, too, and all I can say is that goodness for the air conditioning in the local stores! If I have to run errands, at least I’m staying relatively cool while I’m doing it.
As per Mr. Darcy, from what I understand, there were no swim garments for the gentlemen of the day. As a matter of fact, I read somewhere that there were usually two separate areas: one for women, the other for the gentleman. It went further than separating the sexes for propriety’s sake – the men often bathed in the buff. Scandalous!
I live in an area with constant summer heatwaves. And I definately have an airconditioner! I cannot imagine wearing all those clothes in the heat! I know I would live somewhere besides here during the hot months.
Becky, believe me, I’m thankful society allows me to wear my trusty bikini at the beach, otherwise, I think I’d melt, lol! Like I mentioned, we don’t have central air in my house, but this weekend is supposed to be brutal. I’m going to do my best to get my husband to install the window units in the bedrooms. I can deal with the heat if I have to, but I HATE sleepless nights because of it!
I hope you’re staying cool!
I often think about how uncomfortable they must have been! I would have been unfit company all summer long.
Glad you are at least enjoying some lazy days!
Alyssa, I’d be right there with you! The days aren’t so much lazy as they are necessary. My husband is working from home every single day, which puts a damper on playdates for my poor daughter. I can already tell that she’s going to be very attached to Mommy this summer. (I only hope I can find some time to finish writing my novel!)
I agree, Susan. Light is better. For ten months of the year, I live in shorts or capris and flip flops. At least the Regency Era was better than the Victorian Era. Can you imagine crinolines in the summer. I’m getting the vapors!
Me, too, Mary! Crinolines and pantaloons sound positively awful. Believe it or not, my mother never allowed me to have flip flops when I was a child, only sandals. I live in them during the summertime, and I love them!
A nassssssssssssty, record-breaking, triple-digit heat wave has just pounced on us, and I’m meltiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing! So yeah, I can’t imagine Summers then…but then, I’m also a Southern Belle, in the heart of humid summer, so my summer experience is different than an English summer (so my good friend whose visiting from Sheffield-in-Yorkshire-England likes to point out, constantly, LOL!). While I will wear jeans year-round, even on the hottest days, I love the freedom of loose, gauzy shirts … I guess Regency dresses themselves would’ve been nice – sort of like a cover up – but with the corset under, constricting you and catching sweat? And HAVING TO WEAR SHOES!!! ((I’m soooo barefoot, haha))
I totally lost where I was going with that train of thought…I think it’s time to get more sweet iced tea and curl up with a book. It’s the only way to beat this, and it’s lasting through the 4th. Sigh.
For me, it’s not even the shoes so much as the stockings, Rebecca! Ugh. Can you imagine Elizabeth bennet running barefoot through a field, sans footwear, sans bonnet, and sans corset? I bet she would, and so would I, lol!
Our 4th is supposed to be pretty awful, too. I hope you stay nice and cool, and stop melting! I thought only the Wicked Witch of the West could do that!
When I was in school, girls wore dresses, not slacks or shorts or midriffs or… It was terribly hot. I cannot imagine wearing the many layers that women and men of the Regency had to endure.
Yikes! Regina, I can’t imagine having to wear nothing but dresses at school. My daughter, however, would embrace that movement with open arms. I love layering my clothing, but not quite in the same ways!
I’m visiting NY this weekend and to welcome me, they’re having another heat wave. It was 97 today! What a shock to the system for someone who’s used to the mild temperatures in Seattle!
I can’t imagine wearing all the clothes the ladies in the Regency period had to wear. I’m just trying to figure out what how they managed! I suppose the ladies who worked got away with wearing less and the ladies of leisure could just lie around and fan themselves.
Susan, then we’re practically neighbors! I’m 60 miles from NYC, and yes, it’s way too hot here in CT, too! I hope you’re enjoying yourself – New York is a wonderful state, and very diverse. It’s one of my favorites.
I loved the post. It would be hard to wear that many clothes in summer. Were temps back then in the triple digits in England? Is it ever that hot there? I’ve never been so I wouldn’t really know. I used to wear sundresses however all the time when growing up in hot climates and I much preferred it to pants of any sort. But a slip, and all the other unmentionables with dressy sandals would still be nothing compared to the past use of clothing. ouch
Suzan, I have a friend from Newcastle who I pester constantly with questions about Britain, who has told me that while the winters are more mild there, the summers aren’t quite as hot as we can get in the states. I’m hooping to one day find out for myself first hand. Right now it’s hot as Hades here in CT. *stomps foot* “I want to go to Brighton!”
I do appreciate the elegance of their dress on one level, but I am ever so glad that comfort now plays a major role in clothing fashion.
Enjoyed your post!
Thank you, Sophia! I’m with you – I love being able to dress for comfort most of the year. No petticoats for me.
It is incredible, isn’t it? And the Regency Era ladies had it better than any of the others! The men not so much in any era with all those coats – even if of a lighter weave – and the obligatory necktie. At least the Regency lady wore no thick layers of petticoat or hoops and the fabrics were exceptionally light. Still, it must have been miserable. And I have always wondered about packing for travel! Frankly I can’t fathom how difficult it must have been. They would need at least a whole carriage just to lug the clothing stuffed trunks! Quite mind boggling.
Thanks for an insightful post, Susan. I hope it cools down for you soon.
Sharon, we’re going to Ocean City for a few days in August, and I’ll have to pack for three people (husband, daughter, and myself). I’m already planning nothing but sundresses (because they’re light and airy and can be worn in the daytime, as well as evening). My husband, we’ll he’s a different story, lol! I always thought that the gentlemen in Regency time…and throughout history, really, had it pretty badly regarding dress. The last thing I want to wear in the summer months in pants, and my husband always eyes me with resentment whenever we’re required to dress up. He positively melts in his suit, whereas I am far more comfortable in a dress. I guess we’ve come a long way.
Well, I guess Regency England is colder and less warm since they don’t pollute the Earth so much.
Anyway, happy summer to you all. Here in Malaysia, it’s summer all year round unless it rains.
Happy Summer to you, too, Evangeline!
Good point. My British friend has told me that England in general has milder weather than we have in certain areas of the US, so I think, especially back in the 1800s, things may have been a bit more bearable…but only a bit with all those layers!