Looking for Jane Austen Costume Ideas for your next Regency ball, party, or event? These are my Best DIY ideas to help you create your own amazing costumes on a friendly budget and with basic skills.
Few events in our social calendar call for a regency ball gown or costume. But that is no excuse to miss an opportunity of a lifetime! I am excited to share with you all the tips and tricks I learned designing the costumes for my Regency Era Ball.
I will take you through 7 different costumes designed for a Jane Austen-themed ball, and point out details about them. I’ll explain how they were made, what materials were used, accessories, and design details.
By reading this post you’ll be inspired and equipped. Ready to put together your own Jane Austen costumes!
This post is all about my 7 Best Jane Austen costume ideas you can DIY.
The 7 Best Jane Austen Costume Ideas You Can DIY
Ladies Jane Austen Costume Ideas
This stunning gown was upcycled from a vintage wedding dress. Bought second-hand for just $20!
The only alterations needed were to simply raise the sleeve length, add hooks-eyes to the train, and a blue ribbon around her waist.
The result was this cream silk empire waistline gown, with a detailed bodice and stunning train. Perfectly paired with vintage pearl jewelry and long white gloves.
I created this costume using a vintage wedding gown, blue ribbon, thrifted gloves + jewelry.
Total Cost: $28 NZD or $11.95 USD
Here our very own ‘Miss Elisabeth’ models a stunning pastel pink and green gown. The beautiful satin designs of the bodice complement perfectly the intricate flower pattern of her puffed sleeves and skirt.
Made by her great-grandmother, the bodice was originally a part of a bridesmaid dress and the dainty green patterned fabric was $3 from a secondhand store.
As the dress already had an empire waistline, it simply required replacing the skirt with a new (second-hand) one made from complimentary fabric. Then by adding puffed sleeves matching the skirt, it looked simply picture-perfect!
Vintage jewelry and long white gloves gave the gown its finishing touches.
I created this costume using a preloved bridesmaid dress, thrifted fabric, dollar store gloves, and family jewelry.
Total Cost: $7 NZD or $4.20 USD
For those of you who don’t know me… Hi! This is me!
I created this gown, lining and all, from a duvet set. I purchased it second-hand for just $4! Using McCalls Simplicity pattern C9434 I turned it into this beautiful blue ball gown. I will link below any patterns I used when constructing the frocks.
For the hem of the skirt, I used a large white lace which I thrifted. And finally, a white lace band for the empire waistline tied it all together.
My gloves and jewelry were also all second-hand finds. Accordingly my necklace and earrings were dark silver and blues.
I created this costume using a duvet cover, lace, vintage gloves, and jewelry. All found in the second-hand store!
Total cost: $16 NZD or $9.67 USD
This exquisite blush two-tone Satin gown is both simple and graceful.
I made this gown by adding a skirt and sleeves to an existing bodice. In like manner to how Miss Elisabeth’s dress was created.
The skirt and sleeve fabric was originally a large Satin tablecloth. I made these by using the Simplicity Pattern S9434 then attached them to the bodice.
Lastly, I added a corset back which gave it a more historical and interesting design.
As always, long white gloves and simple jewelry completed the look.
I created this costume using a satin tablecloth, a bodice-style top, white gloves, and jewelry. Completely thrifted, apart from one ribbon.
Total cost: $20 NZD or $11.90 USD
Gentlemen’s Jane Austen Costume Ideas
This gentleman is sporting a navy blue tailcoat coupled with a white cravat, grey trousers, and eye-catching black boots.
All these items were either sourced second-hand or were found already in the wardrobe.
Though originally a knee-length coat, this stylish tailcoat looks perfect for the era. Find out how this was done in the next section.
Men’s knee-length boots can be hard to come by. These fantastic-looking boots were made by cutting in half a pair of women’s boots. These were then made into boot covers!
Read to the end of this post for more details on how the coat and boots were DIYed.
My amazing mother created this costume using a thrifted woollen coat, scarf, and ladies’ boots, and pants. Lachlan already owned the dress shirt and dress shoes.
Total Cost: $42 NZD or $25.35 USD
May I present my very dashing husband! He also sports a blue tailcoat, white cravat, beige trousers, and long-riding boots.
That’s right, men’s riding boots! I couldn’t believe it when I found a pair second hand but they were perfect and required no altering at all.
I created the tailcoat the same way as earlier. By upcycling an old coat. To achieve the high-waisted trousers of the era, I fitted an extra large pair high above his waist and took in the sides and band to fit.
As a result, the trousers met where the jacket ended giving a more ‘historically accurate’ look than just using dress pants (which is a perfectly fine option if you prefer that).
I created this costume using a thrifted coat, pants, riding boots, and scarf. As well as an already-owned white dress shirt.
Total cost: $33 NZD or $20.62 USD
Introducing Mr Nathaniel, posing as seen in his black tailcoat with rows of gold buttons, a blue cravat, beige pants, and high black boots.
Again this coat was originally second-hand, but fitted him perfectly, so was easy to alter.
Adding the 6 gold buttons to the front gave it a very English gentlemanly feel. I recommend adding this detail as it’s easy and inexpensive.
As for all of the gentlemen’s cravats (neck-ties), we used scarves, knotted and puffed until they appeared similar to those worn in films.
I created this costume using a thrifted coat, scarf, buttons, and boots. The dress pants and shirt he already had.
Total cost: $38 NZD or $22.70 USD
If you’re keen for more photos of these costumes and the event they were worn at, check out my other post ‘A Complete Guide to Hosting a Regency Era Ball Even Jane Austen Would Want to Attend’.
Tips and Tricks to DIY
Miss Elisabeth’s sleeves and skirt:
When making sleeves and skirt for this gown I found it easiest to use the pattern pieces from a pattern I already had. As a result, I guaranteed getting the right shape and good instructions on how to assemble them. For this, I used the McCalls Misses’ Costume and the pieces from dress A.
Miss Abigail’s sleeves and skirt:
In like manner, I did the same thing for the sleeves and skirt of this gown. However, I used the pattern pieces from Simplicity Misses’ & Women’s Regency Era Style Dresses, style A.
Mrs. Harvey’s Dress:
Using the McCalls Misses’ Costume pattern (style A) I created this whole dress from scratch. I found a great tutorial on how to follow this pattern linked here.
Mens Tailcoats:
If you want to make these from scratch, there are many good Regency men’s costume patterns. However, if you are keen to upcycle your own, the instructions below show how ours were made.
When it comes to up-cycling, no 2 garments are the same so you’ll need to be ready to problem-solve. Things like side pockets when making this can be an extra hassle.
Step 1:
When selecting a coat, try to choose one that already has a split at the back and fits your wearer in the top half and arms well. It should be roughly knee length.
Step 2:
To begin, mark with chalk where you will cut. If you already have high-waisted trousers, try them on and mark where they finish. This is where your coat’s waistline should be.
The marking should roughly follow the side seam of your coat up until the waist-point then across. Make sure both sides are even.
Then cut away what you have marked.
Step 3:
As a result, you’ll then be left with something like this. The edges will be raw so turn your garment inside out and sew the seam closed, leaving a small opening to turn back out the right way.
Lastly, hand-stitch the opening closed.
Men’s Knee-high Boots:
Knee-high boots for men aren’t particularly easy to come by. I’ve often required them for historical costumes. Consequently the following instructions will show you how you can achieve boots like Mr. Lachlan as seen above. You will learn how to make boot covers that can easily sit over an existing pair of dress shoes.
Step 1:
It’s usually easy enough to find unwanted women’s black knee-high boots in either storage or the thrift store.
Firstly choose a pair that will fit your gentleman’s calves, and ideally match well with the color and material of his shoes of choice.
Step 2:
Secondly, mark where you plan to cut.
The cut should begin at the back around the ankle and end about where the middle of the foot would be. As seen in the example.
Step 3:
Finally, attach a strap of black elastic to either side of the bottom of the boot cover. As shown in the diagram.
And that’s it!
These boot covers will give the illusion of high-knee boots while being held in place sitting over the top of a pair of dress shoes.
