Fashion History Workshops

Three clothing historians will join other Regency period experts for the Spencerville Heritage Fair, June 21-23.

The authors of Napoleon & The Empire of Fashion (1795-1815) will travel from England to offer two workshops on period clothing.

Cristina Barreto and Martin Lancaster share a passionate interest in history.  Their knowledge and expertise for the Napoleonic epoch is known internationally and they have advised and assisted museums, collectors, film-makers and television productions as well as authors.

Napoleon & The Empire of Fashion (1795-1815)í traces the development of costume from the sensual and extravagant Directoire period to the formal, sober clothing and behavior of the Bourbon restoration and shows how Napoleon, surprisingly, used fashion as an instrument of power.

The duo’s workshops on historical fashions will take place on Friday, June 21 at 6:30 PM and Saturday June 22 at 1 PM. The cost for each workshop is $10.

Joining Cristina and Martin is Miss Waterman. Offering a unique performance called Undressing the Regency, Lady Miss Waterman reveals layer by layer what went into proper period dress.

Miss Waterman is a seamstress and historical costume expert. While in California, she was also a member of the Northern Chapter of the Guild of St. George, Inc., a group that prides itself on its quality of performance and its adherence to an authentic representation of the court of Elizabeth I. Eventually her love for historical fashion lead her into the 18th and 19th century and to Tennessee.

Undressing the Regency Lady will be performed on Sunday June 23 at 11:00 AM and is free to the public.