'The Season'

...'The Social Season, or Season, has historically referred to the annual period when it is customary for members of a social elite of society to hold debutante balls, dinner parties, and large charity events...it coincided with the sitting of Parliament and began some time after Christmas, and ran until late June.'


That is the Wikipedia entry for The Season and it is more or less correct. The reason The Season developed in the 17th and 18th centuries and really took off in the 19th century is because when the men (ahem, yes, they were all men then, as women didn't even have the vote) all went to the capital to do their work in Parliament; it was best on so many levels if their families and wives went with them.
Most people who participated in the Season were wealthy enough to afford both a country and a city home: the country estate was where they usually spent the various seasons for hunting game, which began in late summer early autumn, and the holidays. Then they returned to the city for the rest of the year.
In England, 'the city' generally meant London. On the continent, although this practice was not as formal, 'the city' would mean any state or country capital such as Paris.
Here in the U.S. 'the city' could mean Washington, but it could also mean any major metropolitan urbs, where the men went to work and the women and families followed. The city house would be opened and the Season would begin. Admittedly the Season was mostly adhered to on the East Coast of the US although some other parts of the country also emulated the practice. More often than not, however, a socially--erm--aggressive family would merely go to the nearest large metropolis that held specific Season-oriented events and de-camp there to partake.
The Season traditionally consisted of balls, dances and charity events where eligible bachelors could meet eligible young women of good family and reputation, and consider marriage. The Season was also capped by some young ladies' Presentation at Court where they would (in the UK) approach, curtsy and withdraw in front of the reigning sovereign.
By the time WW 1 arrived, the Season made a more or less graceful exit from most scenes, although debutante balls and cotillions carried on through the 1970's in socially prominent families both on the East Coast and the South; cotillions and their ilk are still a cherished part of some Southern and Spanish-descendant communities today (the Quinceanera).
 Debuts and presentations being behind me, I now live permanently in the country. But I am finding that there is still a Season, even here, although one needs to look closely to find it!

The first event is in just over two weeks: the Downton Abbey Tea at the Stegmaier Mansion in Wilkes Barre. My friends from the Queen Victoria's Court group should be there as well as I, and my great friend Carroll. She's opted for a black and toffee colored Edwardian dress and a coordinating black, burgundy and toffee touring type hat. I suggest burgundy gloves and a black bag, and we'll work out the jewelry when she is here: I've got quite a bit! I am not entirely sure what I shall wear to that, as so much is weather dependent at this point. I am planning, however, on an Edwardian ivory/moss soutache embroidered gown with an ivory and pistachio and mauve touring type hat, and pistachio gloves (to the elbow, of course). Jewelry would likely be pearls. An ivory beaded bag with floral insets and very likely my ivory soutache cape will complete the ensemble.

Following closely on the heels of that event is a Dance at the end of January with my English Country Dance group. Although 'Festive Attire' is not a requirement, and although I always wear Regency Dress when I dance, I suspect I'll wear some type of Regency Gown or Dress with an extra measure of frippery: gloves, a fan, a hair ornament, jewelry, etc. I have my lovely black and claret Regency Coat to top it off, and two antique muffs to choose from as well. I have a new Regency Dress in a small gold and cream floral print so perhaps I'll team that up with light colored gloves (white is traditional but I have a soft pale gold pair that would be pretty I think), gold hair ornaments and pearl jewelry that is period correct. I've even got a coordinating fan!

In February, there's a Candlelight Tea with my friends from the Queen Victoria's Court group. I think I'll wear a deep chocolate brown Edwardian dress with soutache embroidery in silver grey to this event. Silver gloves and bag and probably the camphor glass parer with this. I'm not sure about the hat yet: I may just wear a sparkly hair ornament, or I may wear a hat if one of the new ones I've ordered works with the ensemble. I have a couple of stunning new hats, but they would look best with a suit, I do believe. We'll see.

In March, the members of Queen Victoria's Court and I will be doing a Downton Abbey Fashion Show at the WVIA studios as part of their Gala Dinner and Farewell to the program, which concludes its US showing of the final season that night. I am still working on my outfit for this event. It is going to be quite glamorous, even though it is in the daytime, so I am hoping to wear the authentic blue and silver beaded gown I've used in the Period Clothing Display at The Oldest House. If that works, I'll accompany it with greatx4 grandmother's tiara and some authentic Edwardian hemmed jewelry I have and am acquiring...details on that to come. Silver gloves, blue and silver bag, etc etc. If it's not freezing cold, I'll use a new faux fur arctic fox stole as a wrap. Again, time will tell. 
My alternate choice for this is a new pale pink and gold Edwardian gown. I have pink/gold hemmed hair ornaments to go with this, and would probably wear very pale gold gloves. I've got a beaded bag that will work with this, but I'll have to think about the jewelry as most of my Edwardian stuff is silver. However, I do have a lovely although contemporary necklace of rose and yellow gold with gemstones, and will have to rummage through the earrings to find a pair that works. 
Whatever I choose to wear, it will be what I have to have dinner in as well, so I'll have to keep that in mind.

April brings the English Country Dance ball and although I have a gorgeous sapphire blue silk and black velvet Regency Dinner Gown, it's a Dinner Gown. As such, it's too long for dancing although the train does loop up. So I have acquired a silver dupioni silk Regency gown; however, it is very plain, so I'll be trimming it to customize the look. I am sure white elbow length gloves will be my choice, and I'm planning on the Georgian paste (Georgian period just precedes Regency) earrings and necklace to round out the look. I'll probably wear the Regency Coat as well. There's a practice session before the Ball, so that means a cotton Regency Dress, and I can just bring the gown and jewelry and change in the ladies LOL!

In either March or April I hope to attend another Open Hearth Cooking Class. I'd love to do it in period garb, too, and I'd love it if a couple of my Colonial-minded friends would come along. It's a great day out and loads of fun! Pursuant to that, I'm quite excited to have been asked to attend the Historic Foodways Conference later in the year, in September. And as an aside, I am thinking about doing some Colonial re-enactment work with a local group...details to come.

May is empty of this kind of event so far (probably not for long) but June brings a mourning fashion show with my friends from Queen Victoria's Court, at Shawnee. I am not a huge fan of mourning attire, and have very little that is solid black. However, depending on a number of things, I may attend and wear something characteristic of 'half mourning'. Come to think of it, I don't have much of that, either! Oh well.

The end of June brings Founders' Day in Tunkhannock, and I'll be at the Historical Society with all three of my Oldest House Series books, doing signings and meet and greet all day. Thank goodness the building is air conditioned because I usually wear Post Colonial garb complete with padded panniers! I have a new gown from that period this year, so I may wear that, or I may revert to one of my favorite ensembles from past years that I've not worn much of late, and add some new accessories. It's always great fun, and if you have a chance, I urge you to come celebrate Tunkhannock and Wyoming County, PA, with us at the end of June. And come see me!

You may have noticed I haven't talked about The Oldest House much in this post. That's because, if all goes well, we should be having our foundation repaired this spring and summer. As such, we don't plan to open until the end of July at the earliest. So my April, May and June are clear for other events! Once the House is re-opened--and we're hoping to do a gala Open House and Musical Weekend--I'll be fairly busy with the 2016 incarnation of the Period Clothing Exhibit, and giving tours and so on.  Then in the autumn we'll have our annual Fancy Fair, and the Christmas Tea, and so another year will have gone.

I'm excited at all the opportunities to share my love of period and antique fashions and life with everyone who attends these intriguing events, and I hope to meet you at one of them this year. Don't be shy: come up and introduce yourself!

And, as always, thank you for reading.