(by guest blogger Marcela De Vivo)
Shannon Hale’s popular novel, Austenland, was recently adapted into a movie--the story features a
woman who goes to an exclusive, Austen-themed resort in search of a
husband. But what if you’ve already
found your Mr. Darcy/Mr. Knightley/Captain Wentworth/Mr. Tilney? Well, then you’ll just have to hold a Jane
Austen-approved hen party. After all,
what better way to celebrate the famed author (who is soon to grace the £10 note)?
Make it a costume party
What better way to celebrate Jane Austen than to wear those
decadently beautiful Regency-era gowns?
We’ve all drooled over the beautiful cap sleeves in Emma, the crisp white muslins in Pride and Prejudice, and the at-times comical bonnets in Sense and Sensibility. Luckily, Regency wear is among some of the
easiest to make--well, it’s no walk in the park, but it’s still much easier than creating a
fully-embellished Elizabethan gown! And
if you’re not quite the type to pick up a needle and thread, check out
Etsy--it’s full of beautiful empire-waisted gowns that even Caroline Bingley
would approve of.
Eat Jane Austen-approved
food
While British cuisine isn’t exactly lauded the world over, you
can still have a little fun with some Regency era food. Apparently, Jane Austen herself created an
ice cream recipe--plus, she accompanied it with the quote, “I shall eat ice and
drink French wine, and be above vulgar economy”. For real devotees, author Pen Vogler has
created a recipe book--enticingly titled, Dinner With Mr.
Darcy. She was able to
adapt many of the recipes from a book of recipes written by Martha Lloyd, a close
friend of Jane’s.
