Jewel Beetles in 19th Century Fashion

Evening Dress, 1850, India? Source: The Kyoto Costume Institute

What a beautiful dress! Mid-19th century white mull with silk satin bodice, a floral pattern and a matching shawl. So elegant!

But look closer. Can you see it? The floral embroidery on the skirt and shawl is made of thousands of beetle wings!

Evening Dress, detail, 1850, India? Source: The Kyoto Costume Institute

Jewel beetles or buprestidae have iridescent blue-green elytra (the hard case covering the wings) that reflect light very much like sequins and have been traditionally used for beetle wing jewelry and decorations. The elytra are lightweight and very durable. They retain color for a very long time and often remain intact when the surrounding fabric has practically disappeared.  

Jewel beetle embroidery came to England from India, where Madras and Clacutta were the centers of beetle wing art. The exquisitely beautiful elytra had been used since the beginning of the Mughal Empire to decorate turbans, wedding dresses and ceremonial robes as well as for jewelry and even paintings.

Dress piece, muslin, Madras (Chennai), India, about 1880. Source: V&A Museum

Though the technique came from India, Europeans often used the wing cases of South American jewel beetles. They must have looked quite dazzling in candlelight. This style of embroidery was not only fashionable, it was also considered a suitable pastime for ladies of leisure, who were advised to use Walker's number 8 needle and green thread.

Once the vogue for beetle wings on ball gowns had passed, they were often altered for fancy dress parties and masquerades. Beetle wings also found a home on the stage. Probably one of the most famous instance of jewel beetles in fashion is the stunning green dress worn by Ellen Terry in the role of Lady Macbeth at the London Lyceum Theater in 1888.

Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth by John Singer Sargent, 1888

Ellen Terry's Lady Macbeth dress © Zenzie Tinker Conservation Ltd

The gorgeous emerald and sea green gown is crocheted and composed of 1,000 jewel beetle wings. It has recently been restored and it took artists 1,300 hours to return the tattered dress to its former glory. It is currently on display at Smallhythe Place.

While using bugs for decoration may seem like a strange Victorian caprice, some modern designers still use jewel beetles for dresses and jewelry.

Take for instance the young designer Holly Russell who created this sheer fantasy in 2009.

The Blue Jewel Beetle dress by Holly Russell, 2009

The dress is from Russell's Animals & Minerals collection and uses jewel beetle wing cases and human hair to create that slightly surreal effect.

And if you have seen the recent Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), you may recognize this gorgeous gown worn by Queen Ravenna.

Evil Queen dress by Colleen Atwood, 2012 

The dress was designed for Charlize Theron's Evil Queen by Colleen Atwood. It is made of turquoise and gold chiffon with jewel beetle detailing.

Jewel beetle embroidery is truly beautiful and it is a shame that it has been relegated to the world of high fashion and film costumes. I suppose people are just too squeamish about wearing insects; but maybe we should consider adding some nature's own iridescence to our everyday style.    

Reading Jane Austen's Regency World Magazine

Every two months I get a small rectangular package in the mail. This is always a cause for rejoicing as I know that the package contains Jane Austen's  Regency World Magazine, published by that Mecca of all things Austen, the Jane Austen Center in Bath.

My November/December issue had arrived and I was not disappointed. Here are a few highlights:

Some great Christmas gift ideas for the Jane Austen fan in your life
I am very susceptible to gift lists and this Austen memorabilia is a delight. I keep leaving the magazine around the house in hopes that my flatmate will stumble upon it and get me one of these gifts for Christmas.  

You shall go to the dance – public and private balls in Jane Austen’s time
A great article about dancing in Regency England with plenty of references to dances in Austen's novels.

How keeping a bawdyhouse could be a tough business 
Really fascinating stuff. I'm definitively going to check out Emily Brand's book The Georgian Bawdyhouse.  

Baiting, coursing and fishing: blood sports were big business in the Georgian era
Hunting and fishing is not something I'm particular interested in, yet this article sheds some light on the occupations of Regency men. If you're curios to find out which sports were genteel and which were not, this is full of useful information.

Looking at Jane’s use of fashion accessories in Emma
Really fun article about clothing and its meaning in Emma. Did you know that an umbrella signifies a good solid man eligible for marriage, while a purple and gold riticule at a strawberry picking party shows that you are very vulgar? Now you do.

If you love Austen or know someone who dose, the Regency Magazine subscription is really a great Christmas present for them. 

Halloween Masquarade with a Theater Group

For my theater group, Halloween is serious business. It is by far the most important social event of the season and everyone puts a lot of thought and effort into their costume for the annual Halloween Masquerade.

What makes it so wonderful is that since we are all creative, theater-loving people, the costumes were glorious.

Spooky Jack-o'-lantern is presiding over the bash  

Joker was our DJ. Thanks to Nolan we can all have a cool and easy H
alloween costume

Sometimes you watch the food. Sometimes the food watches you

Some nice witches donated a few fingers for our party

There seems to be blood on those candles

Punk Blue Fairy was there. Threatened to turn me into a real girl

Punk Tinker Bell and Punk Peter Pan. A lot of 'punk' at this party

A creepy marionette doll

Ophelia, but not the one from the play. This is the one from a painting by Arthur Hughes  

And Arthur Hughes, too. He was, surprise, Ophelia's date

A Bearded Lady. I suspect that beard used to belong to Jack Sparrow  

And the winner of the best costume - EdwardScissorhands!

I'm very proud of Edward, since I was the one who did the makeup

Happy Halloween!

Photography by Nihan Tanışer and Ritabrata Dutta