Workshop Resources - Fashion
Fashion workshop suggestions: Combination of talk and fashion show would be the route to go. Have a couple of Grade 7's dress up and take their pictures would be a great touch.
Materials: uniforms, civilian coats and vests (Northumberland militia), dresses.
Fashion workshop notes
-American uniforms were produced in 4 standard sizes with an increase in width of chest, waist, thigh, etc of 2 inches per size; size 1 was for men 5 feet 6 inches tall while size 4 was for 6 feet tall men
-uniforms were contracted out so not always standard
-some uniforms poorly made or too small as tailors could keep excess material and use it for their own projects
-American uniforms were simplified through the war to make them easier, cheaper and faster to make
-later the Americans run out of blue cloth and grey uniforms are issued (worn by General Scott's men in Niagara campaign where they were so impressive that those uniforms and colour is the basis for the uniform of the Westpoint Military Academy training uniforms to this day)
-rifle companies wore green hunting frocks
-
-civilian fashion- for men the riding coat either double or single breasted with the tail left on and the front of the jacket cut short, neckclothes became important but shirts less so (could be left up to female relatives to sew instead of a tailor)
-ladies wore figure revealing dresses, some of muslin, with high waists, low necklines; sometimes a very sheer tights were worn underneath so that the dress would not cling to their buttocks, etc too much; the tights were resisted at first as associated with prostitutes and low class women; women would wear stocking to their knees with ribbons or garters supporting them; a ballet type slipper was also popular, reticules became necessary as women had no place for pockets in their dresses (reticules essentially a small purse)
Materials: uniforms, civilian coats and vests (Northumberland militia), dresses.
Fashion workshop notes
-American uniforms were produced in 4 standard sizes with an increase in width of chest, waist, thigh, etc of 2 inches per size; size 1 was for men 5 feet 6 inches tall while size 4 was for 6 feet tall men
-uniforms were contracted out so not always standard
-some uniforms poorly made or too small as tailors could keep excess material and use it for their own projects
-American uniforms were simplified through the war to make them easier, cheaper and faster to make
-later the Americans run out of blue cloth and grey uniforms are issued (worn by General Scott's men in Niagara campaign where they were so impressive that those uniforms and colour is the basis for the uniform of the Westpoint Military Academy training uniforms to this day)
-rifle companies wore green hunting frocks
-
-civilian fashion- for men the riding coat either double or single breasted with the tail left on and the front of the jacket cut short, neckclothes became important but shirts less so (could be left up to female relatives to sew instead of a tailor)
-ladies wore figure revealing dresses, some of muslin, with high waists, low necklines; sometimes a very sheer tights were worn underneath so that the dress would not cling to their buttocks, etc too much; the tights were resisted at first as associated with prostitutes and low class women; women would wear stocking to their knees with ribbons or garters supporting them; a ballet type slipper was also popular, reticules became necessary as women had no place for pockets in their dresses (reticules essentially a small purse)