A review by hannahlee
Dress in the Age of Jane Austen: Regency Fashion, by Hilary Davidson

4.0

I picked this up expecting it might be yet another fluffy, pandering work of Austen fandom, created with the intent of selling something. I was so, so pleasantly surprised to find it not only a work of serious Austen close-reading, but an impressive scholarly piece exploring every possible aspect of dress in the Regency period. Davidson outdoes all expectations in her thoughtful, well-researched, and readable treatise on this subject. This book is incredibly thorough while still being entertaining. It considers the wider context of history while including many entertaining Austen references and a clear affection for the iconic novelist of the period. Worth a read for anyone who enjoys history, fashion, Austen, or all three! Brava!