Teresa Downs, professional reenactor, explains women and girls fashion during the Civil War Era. Her daughter Sarah assists her as they dress their young model.
As they dress Emily Engle, Teresa explains all the layers a young girl would have worn. They are in order as follows:
First come the stockings which were very colorful and were worn with a garter. These are followed by several layers of underclothing including: pantelettes made from muslin, worn from knee to calf, a chemise which caught the perspiration, a corset which was worn as young as two years old and also by men (called “belly binders”).
Unlike in Gone With the Wind, the corsets were put on by lying on the floor, someone stepping on your back and pulling on the strings. They were even worn during pregnancy, according to Teresa.
Then came the corset cover, with buttons made from china or mother of pearl. Next the petticoats (3 in summer 10 in winter) which kept women and girls from tripping on dresses. Finally the hoop, hoop cover and then the dress. Whew! I got tired just watching the process!
Teresa also shared that the color and pattern combinations were horrid in this time period sometimes wearing checks and lines together. They did wear bonnets to keep their complexion light which was a sign of prosperity. They were like wearing blinders.
The shoes women wore were more like boots and according to young Sarah Downs they are “slicker than snot!” They were also very uncomfortable.
Boys wore dresses up to the age of three and the only way to distinguish between boys and girls was the part in their hair. Females always wore their hair part in the middle. The boys wore the hoops and all undergarments like the girls did.
One young girl in the crowd was asked if she was of marital age. Of course she giggled and said no, but Teresa explained that only girls who were ready for suitors wore earrings.
All I can say is thank goodness for shorts–it is a hot day and I can’t imagine wearing all those layers! But it was a very interesting show.
that’s my little girl she had so much fun been there model