Filling our Christmas break with field trips, I had fun researching historical clothing.
Before New Year’s we journeyed to the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, where we stumbled upon some interesting history of how the Marines are called Leathernecks, relating to the 18th century military stock I recently made for my son.
After New Years we took a trip down to Colonial Williamsburg.
The trip had actually been planned for the week before, but they got over a foot of snow!
Monday was sunny and on the warmish side, in the 40’s, which mind boggles me because I’m so cold natured, but with no wind and sunshine, it was quite endurable.
Taking the day at a 4mph society pace, we visited various spots.
We had two missions to accomplish, on this day.
One was for my son to deliver a gift of a sketch he had drawn to someone.
Research to sew my historical wardrobe
The other was fulfilled at the milliner shop.
Now that I’m caught up, at the present, with sewing historically accurate costumes for my kids, I wanted to do some research for me.
After all, my son has been encouraging me to sew my own proper attire “so we can have more fun as a colonial family.”
Since my daughter is in her junior year of high school, and my son is a freshman, there is little time left to play 18th century.
As they graduate high school, they will enter a world of time constraints from modern day jobs.
I’m sure we’ll continue to return in proper attire for time-travel journeys, but that will be more limited.
18th century lady’s jacket
It was tailor day at the shop, where they supported my queries with a proper day of research into ladies’ offerings.
When I told him that I want to make the woman’s jacket from Costume Close-up, he brought this jacket out.
Wow! It’s so gorgeous in person. Pictures don’t do it justice.
As I took snaps of this and that, he discussed construction techniques with me.
Although I love this fabric, I’ve never seen anything like it.
Discussion of the construction of the ladies’ jacket led to a discussion on the construction of men’s coats, as our chatter turned to my son’s regimentals.
It was also great to see the tailor’s work in progress, a man’s wool coat in burnt orange seen behind the jacket.
Then we ate lunch on a bench on Duke of Gloucester Street. Sunny, no wind…it was quite comfortable.
Lafayette visit
After that we went to the Tucker House to see Lafayette who arrived wearing his black cloak, which we’ve never seen in person.
I know my son was analyzing it to ensure the one for him looked like Lafayette’s.
18th century girl’s gowns
Afterwards we returned to the milliner shop to visit with the other tailor, who was showing little girls’ gowns to a mother and young daughter.
Someday I might have granddaughters, so I must make note of these lovely gowns!
This one is a sage green silk with a gorgeous sheer cream embroidered stomacher which is attached to the gown, with lacing in the back of the gown.
Here is a lovely red toile gown for a little girl.
For more photos, check my Flickr set.
COMMENTS FROM MY OLD BLOG
Rebecca – Oooooo, just look at that gorgeous sage green gown! I bet you must have been sighing over that! 🙂 And I bet the little girl he was showing it to was, too! I’ve never been in there when they were talking about children’s clothing (other than the pudding cap). Definitely something to put on my list to inquire about on a future visit!
