After a long absence beyond my control, I drove down to Colonial Williamsburg for the day.
While walking past the gorgeous spring gardens, my impetus was meeting Lafayette in a new program, centered around his 1824 Grand Tour of America…which is actually what inspired me to meet him the first time.
1824 MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE
Beginning with a slide show of Lafayette and the French Revolution while playing the French anthem, we were soon greeted by America’s favorite Frenchman.
Usually, the Colonial Williamsburg focus of Lafayette is in 1781 on the eve of the siege of Yorktown, after weeks of Lafayette and his dragoons chasing his army, then blocking his exit from the peninsula.
In this program Lafayette told more of his lesser-told story, of how he survived the French Revolution.
Now here he was in Williamsburg once again, touring America by special invitation from President Monroe.
In preparation for this new programming, the Colonial Williamsburg tailors sewed a new costume based on historical research.
TAILOR
After visiting with Lafayette, I walked to the tailor shop on Duke of Gloucester Street, which is always so neat and tidy, yet busy with the daily business of many commissions.
While there I had a wonderful chat with this lovely intern who shared all the details of the shop with me.
Best wishes on her future studies (and loved that she remembered me and my kids from adventures long ago)!
Then the very busy master tailor, with whom I’ve not had a chance to visit for years, showed me all the latest commissions in the shop!
I drooled over the hand sewn buttonholes of this nearly completed project, a smashing regimental for a member of the 1st Regiment of Dragoons…
Although it’s easy to assume that only men’s clothing is to be found in the tailor shop, items like this summery lady’s riding habit was also sewn by tailors.
Since it was not draped, as is the business of the mantua maker, a tailor sews these based upon measurements of his customer.
With the loveliest summery shadings of white and baby blue, it has long beckoned me to sew one for myself.
SPRING GARDENS OF MAY
In love with the gardens, houses, and history of the footprints of our Founders more than ever, I have missed coming here.
With a goal to come here once a month, I’m anticipating research while musing about the past in such peaceful surroundings.
I don’t want this dry spell of not visiting to happen again.
