RSS Feed

costuming Archive

A Brief History of Royal Navy Uniforms

Officers’ Uniforms The British Royal Navy adopted a dark blue officers’ uniforms in 1748. This uniform would be the basis for of most of the world’ naval dress. The British were the main maritime power their uniforms influenced those adopted in other countries. [Broderick] The enlisted unform would also prove very influential, but it would [...]
Read More
Spanish Naval Uniforms During the Napoleonic Era

While the heroes of our beloved series have little direct interaction with the Spanish navy, they often share the waves with them, knowingly or not. The following is a guide describing the various uniform regulations that applied to the Spanish navy during our time period. There are images that go with the description as well. [...]
Read More
Royal Navy Uniforms Extant Garments Album Updates

Many new images have been added to both the regular Extant Garments album and the Lord Nelson album. There were too many new items for individual posts, so I thought I’d highlight them here. Of particular interest are the surgeon’s uniform items near the bottom. I can just see Stephen making a horrible mess of [...]
Read More
Royal Navy Uniforms: Sailor’s Embroidered Sea Bag

“A slow packer he was, and inefficient; if Killick had not come to him, having stowed the Captain’s sea-bag, Stephen might have gone on staring at the handkerchiefs, the neckcloths, and the warm-weather drawers until the drum called him away to dinner.” – The Fortune of War I’m cheating a little in adding this to [...]
Read More
Royal Navy Uniforms: Sailor’s Shore-Going Rig

This seaman’s hat and waistcoat from the early 19th century is the newest addition to our Well-Dressed Men Royal Navy Uniforms Extant Garments album. It is probably an example of “shore-going rig”, as regular seamen had no set uniforms until later in the century. Captains would often provide the crew of their personal barge with [...]
Read More
Well-Dressed Men Civilian Extant Garments Album

“Dr Maturin is waiting for you, Di,” said Cecilia. “He is walking his horse up and down in a fine new bottle-green coat with a black collar. And he has a new tie-wig. I suppose that is why he went up to London.” - Cecilia Williams to Diana Villers, Post Captain All images and background [...]
Read More
Well-Dressed Ladies Extant Garments Gallery

“It was a good dress, a light, flimsy version of the naval blue, with white about it – no black, no concessions to Mrs Williams, for it was understood that at a ball any woman was allowed to make the best of herself; but where taste, figure and carriage are equal, a woman who can [...]
Read More
Royal Navy Uniforms: Lord Nelson Album

Lord Nelson’s reputation as one of the greatest naval minds of the Napoleonic Era is not a modern invention. He was considered a hero during his lifetime, long before Trafalgar, to the extent that many of his personal effects “attained the status of relics” while he was alive. For this reason, many of those personal [...]
Read More
Royal Navy Uniforms: Extant Garments Album

This is a new addition to our Well-Dressed Men album, which until now featured caricatures and paintings of what our favorite Royal Navy officers and sailors wore during the Napoleonic Wars. Thanks to the excellent resources at the National Maritime Museum, the album now includes photographs of original garments from the period. Many of these [...]
Read More
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Character Images

Many have called Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World the most historically accurate Napoleonic Era movie ever filmed, and this accuracy extends to the costumes and appearances of the characters portrayed. Images of the cast are perhaps second only to paintings of the time as a resource for historical reenactors and costumers. [...]
Read More

All To Seek: Cross-Reference

Subjects Commonly Addressed