Brighton serves as the backdrop for the offstage drama of Pride and Prejudice. It is here that Lydia—whether seen as a headstrong young woman taking charge of her destiny, or a naive girl caught in folly—falls under Wickham’s spell. Including advertisements that lured tourists to Brighton in the Novel Magazine felt essential. We wanted to bring the offstage intrigue onstage and ignite the reader’s imagination.

Curation for the Imagery
Fashion historian Hilary Davidson enlightened us on the allure of red shoes in her dissertation, The Magic of Red Shoes. Inspired by her research, our curator devised the concept Red Shoes Go to Brighton. These imagined adverts, enticing Regency ladies to take the air at this fashionable seaside retreat, were born from that idea.

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In our vision, Lydia slips on her red shoes as she steps into the carriage, convinced she is on her way to personal happiness. For those travelling from London, the Regent Coach offered just such a journey.

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The advertisements adopt an exaggerated La Belle Assemblée style, echoing the charm of early 19th-century hand-coloured fashion illustrations.