It’s April 2020, so she’s – you guessed right! –
COVID-19 has me at home. Where I’m usually writing. (But lately...)
I love sewing. And I’ve always loved playing dress
ups. Must be the storytelling aspect of dressing up in Mom's old prom dresses
and fantastic fairy gowns, high-heeled plastic shoes...
Given my passion for the nineteenth century American west,
sewing costumes and dressing up made a whole lot of sense. I’ve been sewing
Victorian-like clothing for years!
And then COVID-19 drastically limited where I
could spend time. Through the many long, quiet hours, I’ve become rather fond
of my sewing machine and the escape I find in creation of beautiful things. All
the better that my pleasure in sewing enriches my love for all things
American Old-West.
The image collages I share here depict the simple
more “for stage” and comfort than for reenactment-quality clothing. For example,
this teal-colored costume, circa mid-1890’s
is cotton-poly blend, a combination skirt-and-blouse dress, with an attached
petticoat and zipper up the back. For my own use, fashions such as this are
fine. I’m a twenty-first century author, and I choose comfort.
I love to dress up (in Victorianesque costumes) for Meet and Greets with
readers! Likewise, I immensely enjoyed wearing era-inspired clothing at Jacquie Rogers’
Much Ado About Silver
City. In that inaccurate turquoise-blue get-up, I’m standing on
the true-to-history balcony of the historic Silver City Hotel
(beside author
Charlene Raddon)—whose 1880’s costume I
made to her specifications.
Char purchased her bonnet – isn’t it lovely? My
hat constitutes my first and last attempt at haberdashery. The top-notcher is
festooned with an ostrich plume, as many Victorian
ladies’ hats sported feathers (and entire stuffed birds).
Nineteenth century women, especially those on the
frontier and rural communities often wore calico. While calico
was historically printed with typical floral patterns, the cotton weave was frequently
striped. I’m far from picky when it comes to calico. My only requirement is
that the fabric is 100% cotton. That part of my costuming is accurate.
I know true-t0-history fabrics (reprints of the
Civil War era, for example) are available to today’s re-enactors—more power to
them!
In contrast to my indifference to costuming
fabrics, I care deeply about accuracy in all things
historical fiction.
This image shows two calico options I made with
the assistance of sewing patterns (out of date, but findable online [etsy,
ebay, amazon]).
The next image of a teal-colored calico dress and
bonnet is another far-from accurate design (zipper up the back)... but great
for dress-up.
This bonnet’s longer tail ensures sun protection for
the neck. I tested a cotton sunbonnet once (for several long sun-drenched days)
and found it more effective than sunscreen. For this sunburn-prone gal, a
sunbonnet was a fantastic discovery.
This pink–and-white calico (matron-sized) is a fantastic pattern for historical accuracy. The bodice design (can be seen more clearly on pattern envelope front) is very much like the mid-to-late nineteenth century dresses worn (and sewn at home) by women throughout the United States.
As the nineteenth century progressed, women’s
costumes (dresses) were often two pieces but fashioned to appear as if they
were one. When less formal, and as the turn of the century approached, women’s
styles mirrored the Victorian man’s suit of
clothes, with shirts, neckties, and skirts.
This simple blouse and straight skirt (not unlike a pencil
skirt, nineteenth-century style) is patterned after those everyday
clothing styles.
The woolen tweed skirt, below, sports rows of
grosgrain ribbon in the same creamy shade as the matching Victorian blouse. Numerous
vintage photographs inspired the rows of ribbon.
I purchased the blouse online, bought the cameo
somewhere (also online), and made the skirt with simple adjustments from a
favorite that fit well. Styles in the late nineteenth century often called for
heavy gathers in the back (even as bustles faded) and fitted in front.
Is it any surprise that one of my heroines
is a dressmaker?
Ah! What fun! Now, back to the sewing machine,
where I’m turning calico and muslin into face masks to provide a bit of hope
(?) amid COVID-19. Stay safe, friends, wherever in the world you are.
Bored? Want more?
I’ve written numerous articles about details of
life in the American Old-West, and to clarify misconceptions about anything
nineteenth century United States. You’ll find a searchable archive
of my articles on my website. And another growing cache here.
Warm Regards,
P.S. What are you sewing? If not sewing, what are
you doing to fill your Social Distancing time with something enjoyable? Please
scroll down and comment.
Copyright © 2020 Kristin Holt LC
