Jane Austen 250
June to December 2025
I must provide for the possibility, by troubling you send up my Silk Pelisse by Collier on Saturday. – I feel it would be necessary on such an occasion.
~ Letter to Cassandra in 1814
Jane Austen’s silk pelisse is the most well provenanced item of clothing believed to have been worn by Jane. A letter has emerged dating from 1801 that shows Jane asking Cassandra to purchase two gowns in, “A dark brown, but the kind of brown is left to your own choice”.
Jane also references her pelisse coat in a letter to Cassandra in 1804, where she wants to wear it on the way home from London as she and Henry plan to visit friends on the way back home to Chawton.
Jane Austen Items on Display
It is a pleasure to see it in person, and I am always struck at how slight Jane was. From the length of the coat we know that Jane was between 5 feet 6 and 5 feet 8. Compared to women of her time she was seen as tall and slim.
The last time I saw it was in 2017 (I think!?) and I am impressed at how clean, neat and bright it looks.
Shown alongside Jane’s items that are usually found here, her sewing thimble and the two tiny purses she made, I see that a book owned by Henry Austen has been added to the collection. His name is written on the inside page at the top.
I forget how tiny the green purse is that Jane made with its beautiful gold stitching. You can see how small it is compared to my finger pointing it out!
A Pelisse on Tour
Jane’s Pelisse is moving around this year to celebrate Jane Austen 250. As it was in 2017 for the 200th anniversary of Jane’s death, there have been a number of copies made that will feature throughout various exhibitions and shows.
The Pelisse will stay mainly in Winchester City Museum until October, with a brief period away for a few weeks in the summer for a visit to Southampton.
They are lovely folks at Winchester City Museum and you can contact them beforehand to check it is there.
Want to make your own pelisse?
The talented Hilary Davidson has created a pattern from Jane’s pelisse that you can use to sew your own. You can find it through Research Gate.
I also love Hilary’s beautiful recent Book titled Jane Austen’s Wardrobe which covers 17th and 18th century fashion.
Lovely Links
Read more about Jane’s pelisse on the BLOG.
Find the opening times and more information on the Winchester City Website.
Here is the official Jane Austen 250 webpage which has the Winchester events listed for this year.. so far!
And here is the Jane Austen 2025 events page on this website, as well as Jane Austen 250.
