Imperial Edict:

Designs on an Empire-line resurrect regal draperies, wrapping prestige in high-waisted shapes of softest chiffon.

When I was posting the images from the Jane Austen exhibition, I was already thinking I must also include the pages of this fashion shoot from FOLLOW me magazine. In testament again to how great a magazine it was, they are torn from the Dec/Jan 1988 issue, and have stuck in my memory all these years.

The hairstyling is of course extremely eighties, but the fashions are certainly inspired by the Regency period, especially the fourth image (above right), a dress by Stephen Galloway of silk chiffon over linen. I can’t quite see what the print is; it could be orange polka dots or hearts, but either option is charming enough for a young English lady of quality.

Click on images for larger versions.

FOLLOW me, Dec/Jan 1988. Photos: Martyn Thompson; background: Jayson Brunsdon.