| My son, Alex, was crazy about Jane Austen when | | | | For you gentlemen, there are two really good |
| we homeschooled. So much so that when he | | | | guides for MacGuyver-ing a look together from |
| went to college he founded a Jane Austen club. | | | | secondhand items. There are also good |
| One of the activites every year was holding a | | | | instructions for tying a cravat online. Do this so |
| "Pemberly Ball." We have sense learned that other | | | | that you will not face the scorn of Sir Percy |
| homeschool groups hold similar dances. If you are | | | | Blakney, the Scarlet Pimpernel, "Odd's Fish, m'dear! |
| considering a "Pemberly Ball" for your own | | | | The man cannot even tie his own cravat!" |
| homeschool group, you might be interested in | | | | Remember that most tasteful cravats in Jane |
| how to find the costumes! One of his young | | | | Austen's time were white. |
| friends shared a few ideas with me. | | | | For those of you looking for a tailcoat and a |
| Although costumes for a Pemberley Ball are not | | | | waistcoat, You can get tailcoats from an E-bay |
| required, you may want come in one anyway. | | | | vendor. Look for used tailcoats in their exact sizes |
| Here are some tips for putting together a | | | | and in excellent condition for only $20, and |
| fabulous look without using up your life savings. | | | | waistcoats run about $10. You will get them within |
| For the ladies, really all you need is the gown. | | | | three days of ordering them. For the waistcoats, |
| That is all anyone will see. A basic starting point | | | | the higher they button, the more period-correct |
| for that can be found courtesy of the local store. | | | | they will look. One last word about tailcoats: |
| If you want to buy your own, my best | | | | darker colors were more fashionable for that |
| suggestion to you is to look on E-bay, most | | | | time period, so given the choice between black or |
| dresses run between $40-80. They ship very | | | | gray, the two most common colors you can find, |
| quickly, usually within a week, and are of excellent | | | | go with the black. |
| quality even though the pictures online are not | | | | For pants, long pants will work in a pinch, but if |
| particularly impressive. The only drawback is that | | | | you want to go for knee breeches, a good trick |
| are completely unadorned, but all they really need | | | | is to get a pair of women's capris or |
| is a sash, which you do not even have to sew | | | | petal-pushers as long as they are relatively plain |
| on, and that only costs a few dollars for ribbon. If | | | | and not denim. Then you just stick a pair of white |
| you are more ambitious you can also add beading | | | | knee socks with them, and you are done. |
| and trim to suit your fancy. | | | | |