Most of us find style inspiration from the usual sources: films, celebrities, magazines, street style and catwalks. But one of the things I most enjoy doing is reading books… so why not look at the style of some of our favourite literary heroines instead? I’ve begun with the indisputable queen of all fictional damsels, Elizabeth Bennet from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Here are some things a modern Lizzy might want to have in her wardrobe…
Sturdy boots for walking across muddy fields to visit your sick sister
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| Grenson tan brogue boots, £180 from Kurt Geiger |
60s chiffon evening gown for a ball at Netherfield
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| 60s vintage cocktail gown from Penny Dreadful Vintage $80 |
Lace nightdress for sitting up in bed gossiping after the ball
Cloche hat and leather gloves for walking to Meryton with the girls
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| Zara cloche hat with side bow £16.99 |
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| Aspinal of London tan Nappa leather gloves £55 |
50s navy plaid travelling dress for journeying to see Charlotte
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| Natasha Bailie vintage dress £65 |
Smart 1930s coat for walking in Rosings Park
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| Adeline’s Attic 1930s deco coat |
Lace parasol for a garden tour of Derbyshire with your aunt and uncle
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| Lace parasol from Jane Austen Centre £20 (similar on Amazon) |
An I heart Mr Darcy tote bag to signal your intentions
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| Tote bag from Jane Austen Centre £4.99 |
1970s primrose yellow ruffled day dress for confronting Lady Catherine in the shrubbery
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| Love Miss Daisy vintage dress £69 |
Tea towel for the new kitchen
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| Jane Austen Centre £12 |
Side note: I already own the I heart Mr Darcy bag and it is FABULOUS. And the Jane Austen Centre does worldwide shipping for all you non-UK folk!
1970s hand knitted wool Aran knit cardigan 
Vintage Thierry Mugler mosaic patchwork shoes 
1970s chestnut leather knee high boots 
1970s carpet clutch with lucite frame 
1970s green velvet dress by Jean Varon 
>Oh I absolutely love this post! I think I want everything you've listed but most of all I'm hankering after the 50's travelling dress. You must do more of these. Pretty please.
I'm the proud owner of a Mr Darcy "You must allow me to tell you.." mug won in a blog giveaway. I bloody love it.
>Ha! Excellent post…if it wasn't totally the wrong time of year, I might be tempted by that black lace parasol…
>Great post. I'm not sure there is anyone better to draw inspiration from. I love those boots.
>As a reader, I am a bit embarrassed to admit I've never read Pride and Prejudice. I enjoyed Northanger Abbey so I should really give it a chance.
Anyway…. great collection here. I could see a modern early 1800s (if that makes any sense) girl wearing these for sure
>Great collection I can just imagine your modern EB wearing these. Thank you for your lovely comments. Xxxx
>Wonderful post idea! The modern meets historical vibe to this collection is fabulous…must have the I (heart) Mr Darcy bag!!
>I think this might be my favorite post on a blog ever!
xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com
>I love Elizabeth Bennet, and this post! So many lovely things.
In reply to your comment- I acutally bought one of those gorgeous coathangers to photograph my clothes on for the blog. :)
Florrie x
>cute post! i really want that lace night dress now. so pretty!
>Brilliant post! I'd like the lace parasol for Goa and the stunning 1930's coat for tazzing around the charity shops! xxx
>Hi my dear-what gorgeous picks, I do love the lace nightgown and feathered fan! I'm wearing my leather brogue boots, they are nearly identical to the ones above-mine are good, but the soles are so slippy, lol!!
>Ahh, this post made me laugh!
>As everyone says great post ,lovely to have a theme like this ,those boots are super …love Jan xx
>Fabulous post! And now I want a parasol – that one is lovely.
>I've been craving re-reading P&P this week, I think working your way through some Jane Austin and the winter go hand in hand. Perfect choices on the clothes front, you must have read the book lots of times as you have such a good memory of all of the different social events!
>Oooh I love this! Lovelove those boots.
>Gorgeous. I especially love the cloche and the gloves (am an accessories girl after all) and I had new brogues on today :)
>This was such a brilliant post….and not only because I'm proud and prejudiced that you included the 30s coat from my shop ;). THANKS, by the way. I am delighted to imagine the likes of a modern Ms. Bennet owning it!
>Such a great post! I am the proud owner of an I Heart Mr Darcy bag. Always gets great comments! x
>I'm not kidding when I say I've seen this movie like 6 times. Love regency style <3
xx
MILK TEETHS
>I loved your Mr. Darcy bag.
>Great post! And I'm obsessed with that plaid coat.
A Fictional Blog
>That is so spooky I was only thinking of doing a Jane Austen post the other day. Brilliant xx
>I love the yellow ruffled dress. so beautifullllllllll.
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>I love the night dress – amazing! Oh please can you do a post on Wuthering Hights…Pleeeeease?x
>LOVE. THIS. POST. I'm a Pride and Prejudice (and all things Jane Austen) fiend! I can't tell you how many times I've watched this movie- I can practically recite the entire dialogue. This was a really good idea! And I really want the Mr. Darcy bag.
*Claudia*
>Hurrah! I’m so glad people liked this, can’t wait to get into some other literary chicks now.
Alex – what a great mug! I have one with a quote from Little Women on it. And another with daleks, hehe
Miss Peelpants – Yes it is a shame it doesn’t have a clear plastic lining so it could be used as an umbrella – much more appropriate for this climate
A Thrifty Mrs: she is just the best heroine ever, isn’t she
Jenni – you should definitely read it! Apart from anything else, it is very very funny.
Fashionistable – and thank you for yours now too ;)
Brittany – the bag is great isn’t it. I tracked it down for myself after seeing a random girl carrying it along the street
Courtney – awwww!
Florrie – excellent! Coathangers are usually so dull, I thought it was so great that they had jazzed them up
The Higgenbottom – me too, it looks like something from the Nutcracker
Vix – excellent idea, you definitely need a lace parasol for Goa!
Sharon – Bet your brogue boots didn’t cost 180 smackers, hehe ;)
Bette – aw thank you. Best compliment anyone can pay!
Jan – I have to say the boots were inspired by Mr Dreadful – he has a pair just the same!
Cat – parasols are so pretty aren’t they. I actually have one, but unfortunately it rarely comes out as this is just the wrong climate for it!
Discotheque C – Yes I am thinking I need to read Jane Eyre now the weather has turned cold. Comfort reading fits right in with comfort eating for this time of year
Pansy – Thank you! The maker of those boots is a very old English boot shop, so although they are expensive I included them as they are so beautifully made, and will last for years and years.
Baglady – I was pretty smitten with the cloche myself. And what a bargain huh!
Baroness – I am sure Ms Bennet would be a regular buyer from Adelines!
Chuck – yay! We are bag buddies :)
Smash – Wasn’t Mr Darcy a HUNK. Colin Firth will never be bettered.
WendyB – And I loved your vampire necklace!
Lisa – the plaid dress is gorge, isn’t it. Snap it up quick before Natasha B leaves for Singapore!
Kate – the world is big enough for as many Jane Austen posts as we can ever write x
Sacramento – it is so pretty isn’t it. Not really the weather for it right now unfortunately!
Lena – You suggestion has been taken on board. Great idea, but I think I’ll need to re-read it first – the last time was when I was much to young to really understand!
Claudia – the Mr Darcy bag is so cheap – do it!
>This post is so much fun! I love it. :)
>Lovely post! I adore the deco coat and the yellow dress.
I've never been on Etsy before. I clicked through and bought the nightdress! I love stuff like that although I will probably have the frill at the bottom chopped off. Thank you for the tip xx
>Love this post! Pride & Prejudice is such a great book, and I loved the inspiration to choose each piece. I can absolutely see a modern Elizabeth Bennet wearing each of this clothes! The tote bag is absolutely amazing, I mean, who doesn't love Mr. Darcy? lol
fashionatemybrains.blogspot.com
>Those Grenson boots are to die for!!! I'm positively swooning. About to research sizing, as me feets may be too small : / Vintage Love to you and your gorgeous blog!