How to Buy Clothing

"I shall want two colored gowns for the summer, for my pink one will not do more than clear me from Steventon. I shall not trouble you, however, to get more than one of them, and that is to be a plain brown cambric muslin, for morning wear; the other, which is to be a very pretty yellow and white cloud, I mean to buy in Bath."
Jane Austen January 25, 1801

Buying new clothing is a process and can depend on one's income when it come to choosing one's clothes for each season. Fashions change constantly and one would not want to look out of fashion when out in society. When preparing there are a few things that must be considered.
First it is important to take inventory of what one already has. This will help determine what must be added to make it through the season.
Second, do research. Look at stylish publications to see what is being worn. Anyone who has recently been to London, will have a better idea of what is in fashion. Having the wrong cut of sleeve or bodice could be your downfall, as you might be considered too country. Also identify a fashionable way to trim your bonnet, as this would also be a social blunder.
Third, one can acquire patterns. If a friend of yours has a wonderful dress, you may always ask to make a patter of it. Cut out pieces of fabric and baste them together, to use in the future on your own gowns.



Fourth, purchase fabric. You should always purchase 7 to 10 yards of the fabric. The more delightful the fabric the more you will want, as it can be used to make accessories for your gown, like handkerchiefs and caps or to update other gowns. Make sure you choose a trimming that will enhance the gown. Only allow others to choose fabric for you if you trust their opinion, otherwise you might end up in something terribly out of fashion.
Fifth, consult a professional. Take all patterns or ideas to a professional along with your fabric, she will be able to create a dress just for you in no time.
Sixth, renew and recycle. When consulting your wardrobe, always identify what gowns can be worn again. They might need a new trimming or a new colour but they can be updated.


Seventh, accessorize. In some cases all that needs to be done is to reline or purchase a new pelisse. Accessories will brighten a wardrobe and may hide any wear of older gowns.

The Jane Austen Handbook

A couple of years ago, I purchased the book entitled "The Jane Austen Handbook: A Sensible Yet Elegant Guide to Her World" by Margaret C. Sullivan. It has been a wonderful experience reading through the book and learning how to become more like Jane Austen.
Many people question why Jane Austen is important to the world today, she died a couple hundred years ago. Well the answer is this, as eloquently put by Margaret Sullivan,

"How to explain the sheer tingling joy one experiences when two interesting, complex, and occasionally aggravating characters have at last settled their misunderstandings and will live happily ever after, no matter what travails life might throw in their path, because Jane Austen said they will, and that's that? How to describe the exhilaration of being caught up in an unknown but glamorous world of balls and gowns and rides in open carriages with handsome young men? How to explain that the best part of Jane Austen's world is that sudden recognition that the characters are just like you?"

Each Austenite has felt this overwhelming recognition. The characteristics of every character can be seen in people in our world today. Think about your life, is there a Mr. Collins and Mary Bennett wandering through in a daze? What about a Charlotte Lucas or Miss Tilney, best friend and confidante to each of us? Or someone that enters our world and then leaves us picking up the pieces after their betrayal, like Mr. Elliott, Wickham and Frank Churchill? Overbearing parents, jealous siblings? Loving parents and generous siblings? Or the heroine or hero in each of us? All can be found in a Jane Austen book, and in each of our own lives.
Yes maybe we should not get too involved with books, as Catherine Morland did in Northanger Abbey. But there is in a fact a way to live our lives and enjoy a good novel. Jane Austen's books are witty, and fun. And though some books were written over two hundred years ago, they are indeed still relevant to each of us.

As a result I will be sharing relevant information on this blog on how to become more like Jane. Topics covered will include how to ride a sidesaddle, how to treat the sick, how to decline an unwanted proposal of marriage and how to play at cards.
To start however, the topic will be How to Become an Accomplished Lady.

"It is amazing to me," said Bingley, "how young ladies can have patience to be so very accomplished as they all are.... They all paint tables, cover screens, and net purses. I scarcely know any one who cannot do all this, and I am sure I never heard a young lady spoken of for the first time, without being informed that she was very accomplished." -Pride and Prejudice

To be well-bred, women much have accomplishments that will attract men. The key to choosing these accomplishments is that they will in fact not be very useful, apart from attracting men. More than likely these accomplishments will only come from practice and study. A practice and study that must be rigorous until the day of marriage. Any slacking off will result in spinsterhood. Accomplishments that a woman must have include: studying several languages, having a basic grasp of history and geography, becoming a proficient musician, drawing or painting, mastering the art of needlework and learning to dance gracefully.
Ms. Sullivan tells us how each of us can become more accomplished in each of these areas.


"Study several languages. Become well-versed in French, certainly, and Italian, so you can read music and translate love songs. There is no need to learn Latin or Greek however-you'll be thought a bluestocking."
(A bluestocking, is an educated, intellectual woman. Until the late 18th century, the term had referred to learned people of both sexes. However it subsequently was applied primarily to intellectual women, and the French equivalent bas bleu had a similar connotation. The term later developed negative implications, and in some instances such women were stereotyped as being "frumpy"."


"Acquire a basic grasp of geography and history. One need only concentrate on the fundamentals in formal study, but if you want to learn more , the books in your father's library will provide an opportunity to do so."







"Become a proficient musician. A lady who can sing and play upon the pianoforte, or better yet, the harp, will always attract a husband, because he'll think she will be able to entertain him and his guests in the evenings. Many women give up music entirely once they are married but fortunately the gentlemen never seem to catch on."





"Draw or paint the picturesque. Pencil drawing and watercolor painting are ladylike endeavors. Choose picturesque subjects for your art...Concentrate on the ruins (the more tumbledown the better); dead trees; and rough or rustic landscapes. If no picturesque elements are present in real life, add them from your imagination."






"Master the art of needlework. To be an accomplished woman, you must know how to do fancy needlework as well as the mundane aspects of sewing for the family, even though you contract out the vast majority of the utilitarian work once you are married. A married woman's primary sewing tasks are to make her husband's shirts and cravats and to the family mending. When company is present, she will display impressive embroidery and decorative needle arts."





"Learn to dance gracefully. The ballroom is the center of a young lady's life. When you are not dancing at balls you will no doubt be longing for the opportunity. Practive with your sisters until you are officially "out"."





For a Gentleman to become educated, he will need a formal education in Latin and Greek, mathematics, history and literature. Young male heirs, those who would inherit great estates, will need to take "grand tours", one to five year trips to the Continent, where they would learn languages, absorb cultures and acquire objets d'art. Apprenticeships are available for men destined for professions.

"I'm not a psychopath, Anderson, I'm a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research." Sherlock

Sherlock Holmes is a literary icon created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Some people do not even know that he is in fact a fictional character, they think he was a real person. In 2009, the BBC began production on the Sherlock series. The series focuses on Sherlock and Watson in the 21st century. Sherlock is, of course, a detective and Watson is a doctor. However, in this series Watson was a military doctor with some psychosomatic issues from the war. And Sherlock is a nuisance to the detectives.

The series aired on PBS in October and November of 2010. The series was received very well. Winning a BAFTA (British Academy Film and Television Award) for best dramatic series and best supporting actor. A second series is being filmed and will be aired on PBS May 2012. You can currently watch the series (3 episodes) on Instant Viewing on Netflix.

Sherlock is played by Benedict Cumberbatch (Amazing Grace) and Watson is played by Martin Freeman (aka Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming Hobbit movies).

I HIGHLY recommend this series. Please view at your own leisure as it is still 12 months away from being shown in the United States.

SPEBL had a meeting.

Society for the Promotion of Elegant British Literature
Meeting #2
9 June 2011

Meeting Agenda
A. Eat
B. SPEBL business and proposals
Proposals read by Shelly Rowlan
THE PURPOSE OF PUNCTUATION
"Punctuation has been defined in many ways. Some grammarians use the analogy of stitching: punctuation is the basting that holds the fabric of language in shape. Another writer tells us that punctuation marks are the traffic signals of language: they tell us to slow down, notice this, take a detour, and stop. But best of all, I think, is the simple advice given by the style book of a nation (British) newspaper: that punctuation is "a courtesy designed to help readers to understand a story without stumbling." (Truss, Lynn. Eats, Shoots, Leaves. p.7)
Thus as true SPEBL members-who adore the etiquette and dement of 19th century British society-I think it is only appropriate that we also indoctrinate ourselves in the good manner of punctuation. As we know truly good manners are invisible: they ease the way for others, without drawing attention to themselves.
You may wonder why punctuation would be a critical topic at a SPEBL meeting. Because, my fellow, SPEBLs, there are often devastating consequences of mispunctuating that be truly frightening. Take for instance this popular example:
A woman, without her man, is nothing.
A woman: without her, man is nothing.
Makes you think doesn't it? Can you see the power of punctuation to guide and influence the mind? Yes punctuation is a powerful tool, my friend. One that as SPEBL members I propose we own and hone. And, specifically that we focus our efforts on apostrophes.
PROPOSAL #1
I propose that as members of SPEBL we support the Apostrophe Protection Society (a British organization) by linking it to our Facebook page and requiring each member to take the Apostrophe Tutorial. (Sidenote: This tutorial is read by a man with a delightful British accent. It's worthy of SPEBL time on that merit alone.)
PROPOSAL #2
I propose that we become Apostrophe Protection Society vigilantes. I recommend we acquire-through purchase or Krista's crafting skills-a secret apostrophe button or bracelet or tattoo. That we can flash with pride when meeting another Apostrophe Vigilante. We will be the secret militant wing protecting the perfect utilization of the apostrophe.
However, these proposals are issued with a warning: You must realize that no one understands an Apostrophe Vigilante. Society, in general, regards them as freaks. When acting as a vigilante and pointing out gross punctuation errors, be prepared to be aggressively instructed to "get a life" by people who, interestingly, and obviously, display no evidence of having lives themselves. It may be natural to become timid about making your insights known, in such inhospitable conditions, but remember that no true revolutionary went without some public ridicule. (Of course, I refer you to lives and stories of such examples as Martin Luther King and King Julian.) Just remember that someday people may recognize the incredible contribution we made to society, but it won't be this day.
What happened to punctuation? Was it laziness? Was it a poor education system? (I tread lightly here knowing that a former Teacher of the Year is within our ranks.) Or was it simply the arrival of texting? because, let's be honest--- it is time-consuming going through the little punctuation menu. However, as true SPEBLs, I propose we TAKE the time to not only learn our own punctuation menus, but correct those incoming texts as they lack proper etiquette- they are destroying, single-handedly, one message at a time, the British language!! If punctuation is stitching of language, then our language is coming apart and all the buttons are falling off. And that's where we have to draw the line because it is now neither literature nor elegant.
WHY PUNCTUATION IS WORTH IT
The reason it's worth standing up for punctuation is not that it's an arbitrary system of notation known only to an over-sensitive (and Jane Austen loving) elite. The reason, the real reason, to stand up for punctuation, the reason we all need to make a stand up for punctuation, the reason we all need to make a stand on tonight, throw our entire selves into the melee for, is that without punctuation there is no reliable way of communication meaning.
Punctuation herds words together, keeps others apart. Punctuation directs you to read, the way musical notations directs a musician how to play. The sheer beauty of these seemingly inconsequential mark should evoke a gasp of wonder. We must be staunch because we understand what is at stake here; but we must also be flexible because rationally we know we are entering deeply into nerdish behaviors. Nevertheless, clarity is our goal- as it wields the sword with the sharpest edge.
So what I propose is action: SPEBLs UNITE! As one of the powerful organizations for British literature in the Phoenix Metro area, we have nothing to lose but our sense of proportion, and arguably a lot of friends. But at least we can unleash the literary master within each of us that is so evoked by the brilliant literature of Jane Austen (a perfect punctuator), Elizabeth Gaskell, Charlotte Bronte, etc. Of course this will require that we adopt a zero tolerance approach, when you see a banner advertising, "CD's, DVD's, Video's and Book's" do not just stand indoors getting depressed about it. Act! Engage in some direct action! Scribble out the apostrophe, write a letter to the store owner, start a picket line because after tonight, my friend, the important thing to remember is you won't be alone. And who knows what together we might accomplish?
PROPOSAL #3
Next meeting we each share an experience we had being Apostrophe Vigilante. I think this could be both cathartic and uniting. Feel free to express the suffering and turmoil as well as the insights and motivation for being an Apostrophe Vigilante. If all goes well, we can discuss the next level of mastery-commas.

Call for Approval of said proposals by founder Ashley Perkins
Approval of Proposal #1 and Proposal #2 & #3 will be readdressed at the next SPEBL meeting.

C. Other Business?
None

D. Viewing: "Under the Greenwood Tree"

E. Discussion of said movie
Loved by everyone. Dick Dewey acknowledged as very handsome. Movie seemed very daring, showing of arms, hands being washed in same basin, her proposal of marriage at end. One problem: What happened under the greenwood tree?

During the movie, several ideas were presented to be further activities and things to be discussed to everyone's understanding.

Goal before the next meeting taking the Apostrophe Tutorial, as now required by all SPEBL members.