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Wellies
Lady of the Order of Bluestocking Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 305 Location: In exile...	Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:38 am    Post subject: Masked ball?   I've only been here a day, and I already have a question that I haven't found an answer for in previous posts... What exactly constitued a masked ball in, say, 1815? Did people wear full costumes or just masks? If they wore costumes, do you have any ideas what kind of costumes might have been worn at the time? Further, are a masked ball, a masquerade and a fancy dress ball exactly the same thing or are there some differences? _________________ I have the honour to be etc. Wellies "Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained." -- The Duke of Wellington
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Candice
Queen of the Board Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 2731 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:36 pm    Post subject: Re: Masked ball?   Wellies, I am away from home at the moment (back next Wednesday, I think) so I don't have my library at my fingertips. I'll check for details when I get home. I can think of a couple of books, at least, that talk about masqerade balls. Wellies wrote: Did people wear full costumes or just masks? Full costume or domino, ie a mask attached to a short cape . Wellies wrote: If they wore costumes, do you have any ideas what kind of costumes might have been worn at the time? Anything you can think of. Historical figures, fictional figures, figures from classical mythologies, animals, you name it. Wellies wrote: Further, are a masked ball, a masquerade and a fancy dress ball exactly the same thing or are there some differences? I would consider them the same thing, though I will have to check to see if "fancy dress ball" was a term used back then. _________________
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Wellies
Lady of the Order of Bluestocking Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 305 Location: In exile...	Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 12:27 am    Post subject: Re: Masked ball?   Candice wrote: I would consider them the same thing, though I will have to check to see if "fancy dress ball" was a term used back then. Thanks, Candice! I came across the term "fancy dress ball" in another, non-fictional, book. The author used the term, but I don't think I would in my book. It sounds a tad too modern for me and wouldn't fit in, in my opinion. Masquerade sounds a lot more romantic anyway _________________ I have the honour to be etc. Wellies "Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained." -- The Duke of Wellington
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NoirFemme
Upstart Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 25	Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:59 am    Post subject: Re: Masked ball?   Wellies wrote: Candice wrote: I would consider them the same thing, though I will have to check to see if "fancy dress ball" was a term used back then. Thanks, Candice! I came across the term "fancy dress ball" in another, non-fictional, book. The author used the term, but I don't think I would in my book. It sounds a tad too modern for me and wouldn't fit in, in my opinion. Masquerade sounds a lot more romantic anyway Actually, the term "fancy dress ball" was British, while "masquerade" or "costume ball" was American (which is why I assume the former phrase means "to dress up" to go someplace really nice in the US). I did a little sleuthing through Google Books and while I'm not saying it's 100% accurate, I did come across the phrase "fancy dress ball" in a book printed as early as 1807. _________________ Edwardian Promenade // blog of all things Edwardian!
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Wellies
Lady of the Order of Bluestocking Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 305 Location: In exile...	Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:29 am    Post subject:   That's very interesting, NoirFemme! Thanks for that! I think I will just vary the terms that I use, probably throw in a little French too. Plus, my story is set in Vienna, where a masked ball was called a "Redoute", so I might use this word as well... Now an additional question, at the time, would it actually have been acceptable for a woman to attend a masked ball dressed in men's clothing? _________________ I have the honour to be etc. Wellies "Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained." -- The Duke of Wellington
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NoirFemme
Upstart Joined: 11 Jun 2007 Posts: 25	Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:35 pm    Post subject:   Wellies wrote: That's very interesting, NoirFemme! Thanks for that! I think I will just vary the terms that I use, probably throw in a little French too. Plus, my story is set in Vienna, where a masked ball was called a "Redoute", so I might use this word as well... Now an additional question, at the time, would it actually have been acceptable for a woman to attend a masked ball dressed in men's clothing? I'm no Regency expert But in the books I've read on the late Victorian/Edwardian era, a fancy dress ball was where people were allowed to dress as they chose--though most women tended to use it as an opportunity to wear lavish, sometimes immodest clothing under the guise of "historical accuracy" (think of Halloween of today *g* ). I feel that wearing men's clothing would toe the edge in the Regency era though, and there were laws against cross-dressing. If the woman dressing as a man isn't tied to the plot, it would be a bit more realistic for her to come dressed as some scandalous historical or mythological figure. _________________ Edwardian Promenade // blog of all things Edwardian!
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Candice
Queen of the Board Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 2731 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2009 10:52 pm    Post subject:   Ah, but remember Lady Caroline Lamb and her infamous page costume. Plus there were many actresses, eg Mrs. Jordan, known for their "breeches" roles, ie when they dressed as boys or young men. If they could do it, why not a bold young lady at a masked ball? _________________
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Wellies
Lady of the Order of Bluestocking Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 305 Location: In exile...	Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 12:49 am    Post subject:   Ah yes, Caroline Lamb! I forgot about her. Well, I think my heroine might be bold enough to wear breeches to a masked ball once she gets exasperated with the endless parties, gowns and dancing. Perhaps her showing up wearing breeches might serve to discourage a certain gentleman she wishes to avoid from dancing with her! Thank you, Candice! _________________ I have the honour to be etc. Wellies "Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained." -- The Duke of Wellington
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wentworth
Landed Gentry Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 108 Location: Sweet Home, Oregon	Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 1:36 pm    Post subject:   Perhaps her showing up wearing breeches might serve to discourage a certain gentleman she wishes to avoid from dancing with her! Or not... Respectfully submitted, Wentworth _________________
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Wellies
Lady of the Order of Bluestocking Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 305 Location: In exile...	Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 11:40 pm    Post subject:   wentworth wrote: Perhaps her showing up wearing breeches might serve to discourage a certain gentleman she wishes to avoid from dancing with her! Or not... LOL! You are right - that is a point worth considering! _________________ I have the honour to be etc. Wellies "Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained." -- The Duke of Wellington
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KalenHughes
Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100	Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:28 pm    Post subject:   My favorite costumes from the era are plants. There's an 18th century print of the Prince and all his friends dressed as topiary. It's amazing. _________________ -Kalen w/a Isobel Carr Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011 Book 1: The League of Second Sons www.isobelcarr.com
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Candice
Queen of the Board Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 2731 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:58 pm    Post subject:   Ooh ooh, I love the plants, too. I remember a print from a Louis XIV ball where they were dressed as topiaries. Prinny must have stolen that idea. _________________
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Wellies
Lady of the Order of Bluestocking Joined: 11 Feb 2009 Posts: 305 Location: In exile...	Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 11:47 pm    Post subject:   That is an intriguing idea! You have so many great suggestions! My heroine has to attend no less than four masquerades during the course of the story, so I need to come up with more and more stunning costumes each time. Only at the last one does she lose patience with all the foppery and dresses au militaire, literally. Now I have to go and search for pictures of 18/19th century flower costumes to get some inspiration! _________________ I have the honour to be etc. Wellies "Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained." -- The Duke of Wellington
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Melpomene
Poor Relation Joined: 15 Sep 2008 Posts: 95	Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 7:39 am    Post subject:   KalenHughes wrote: My favorite costumes from the era are plants. There's an 18th century print of the Prince and all his friends dressed as topiary. It's amazing. Where can I find this print? It sounds
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Candice
Queen of the Board Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 2731 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:02 pm    Post subject:   Actually, it was Louis XV, not Louis XIV (sorry about that). It was called the Yew Tree Ball. Here's a link to an article about it, with a print: http://www.madamedepompadour.com/_eng_pomp/galleria/biograf/ilballo.htm You can find bigger images of the print if you do a google image search for Yew Tree Ball. _________________
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