“Austen wrote the first draft of the story in 1797, and it wasn’t published until 1811. I felt that the earlier period looked more interesting, it was a more interesting period socially and therefore those social changes were reflected in everything including costumes. The Empire Lines were just coming in, so high society such as Caroline Bingley, would be wearing an Empire Line dress. Whereas the Bennet girls might not be, so the waistlines could be a little lower.” (Joe Wright, Director)

“Austen wrote the first draft of the story in 1797, and it wasn’t published until 1811. I felt that the earlier period looked more interesting, it was a more interesting period socially and therefore those social changes were reflected in everything including costumes. The Empire Lines were just coming in, so high society such as Caroline Bingley, would be wearing an Empire Line dress. Whereas the Bennet girls might not be, so the waistlines could be a little lower.”

(Joe Wright, Director)