Fairfax House is holding a new exhibition that will explore one of the most daring periods in fashion, reports MATT CLARK.

EIGHTEENTH century Europe was a time of radical change. In this country the Industrial Revolution was in full steam, while across the channel the French were revolting. Then there were the Napoleonic wars.

But amid all this turmoil a far quieter revolution was going on in fashion, which was influenced by social upheaval in both countries.

And from August 26, Fairfax House will be putting on an exhibition that brings together the elegant and sumptuous clothing of Georgian and Regency polite society. The sort of styles worn by characters in Jane Austen novels.

Revolutionary Fashion will explore the sweeping political, economic and technological influences on taste, style and production during the period. Exhibits will be on display in all the rooms to give mutual context for both the items and the room settings.

Highlights include an exquisite fan seen above, which would almost certainly have been the talk of high society in places such as York’s Assembly Rooms. As indeed would the intricate hair clip.

But only a select few would have been privy to the sumptuous painted leather slippers made for Princess Amelia’s by royal shoemaker Brucknell.

Many of the items on display are only in this fabulous condition thanks to the conservation specialists at Fairfax House. People such as Mary Brooks, who is pictured painstakingly trying to stabilise some of the 200-year-old silk threads in time for the exhibition.

Hannah Phillip, director and curator, says the Georgian period was a very daring time with clinging fabrics leaving little to the imagination and helping to reveal more than they concealed.

“For women, low cut, high-waisted gowns in soft diaphanous fabrics were the rage,” she says. For men it was all about masculinity – close-fitting cut with superb construction and tailoring to show off the figure.

“Essentially we are seeing the modern man’s fashion being born. Regency clothing has such a great influence on styles today as we see many of these designs revisited again and again.”

The exhibition follows on from last year’s highly successful Dress to Impress.

• Revolutionary Fashion 1790 – 1820 runs from August 26 until December 31. Entry to the exhibition is via a general admission ticket costing £6 (£5 concession, children under 16 free) which is valid for a year.

Fairfax House is open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm and Sunday 12.30pm to 3.30pm. Guided tours are also available at 11am and 2pm on Mondays.