Posted on 01/16/2011 9:11:15 AM PST by Pharmboy
Revolutionary war fashion show comes to Corsicana
Corsicana — Yards and yards of embroidered silk and damask, wool and linen swirled through the Kinsloe House as part of a special 1700s fashion show hosted by the James Blair Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Wednesday.
The creator of the dresses was Carolyn Schiewe of the Captain Molly Corbin Chapter of the DAR in Grapevine. Schiewe researched the dresses and then sewed them for herself and her friends.
“Ladies during the revolutionary war were just as interested in fashion as we are today,” Schiewe explained. And although she had assumed the colors would be muted or limited, she was surprised and delighted to find that wasn’t true.
“They had some dyes were very effective,” she said.
Daily Sun photo/Janet Jacobs The Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a 1700s fashion show Wednesday at the Kinsloe House. Shown, left to right,
are Anita Robidou, Jane Doclar, Carolyn Schiewe and Hertha Northcraft of the Captain Molly Corbin Chapter.
Most of the nicer gowns came from England or France, and wealthy women could order their gowns by seeing fashion dolls called “moppets” that were shipped over with the full dress on them. Others ordered the fabrics and made their own in the colonies, Schiewe said.
“Prior to the revolutionary war most fabrics were imported from England or France, although some fine silks came from China and calico from India,” she said. “People with money in the colonies had access to fine fabrics.”
As the war progressed and England took actions to close the ports in Boston, New York and other colonies, fabrics were still a money maker for blockade runners or smugglers.
Cotton wasn’t used as much as wool or linen because the gins that made separating out the fibers from the seeds weren’t common, and it had to be done by hand, which was expensive. Nor did the colonies have any large mills or weaving houses because England didn’t want to lose its textile market in the colonies.
Carolyn Schiewe explains the construction and history of the clothes of the 1700s at a fashion show Wednesday at the Kinsloe
House while Anita Robidou models a riding or travelling outfit. Schiewe researched and then sewed all the outfits
In her presentation, Schiewe had her models show off not only the gowns, but also their undergarments, which were also authentic to the period, and the construction of the dresses. Women of that century didn’t wear underwear, but only a shift, which was a long undergown that was also their nightwear. However, well-dressed women did wear layers of petticoats and well-to-do women wore corsets which pulled in their waists, sometimes to the detriment of their health. The wide-hipped look was made with bags on either side, and women had pockets accessed through slits in their gowns and below the various petticoats.
Among the beautiful dresses was also a more work-a-day dress that would have been typical of a tradeswoman, Schiewe said.
In showing that gown, Schiewe pointed out that women of that day only bathed every few weeks and didn’t launder their clothes as often as modern women do.
“They believed the natural oils in the skin protected them from disease,” Schiewe said.
Their lacy mob caps were to hide their greasy hair as well as to keep the dust and dirt from collecting in their hair, she added.
Having the Grapevine group come and present in Corsicana was a special treat, according to Geneva Davis, the regent for the Corsicana chapter. Schiewe and her group are taking the educational program all over the state this year, she said.
“I was so glad to be able to get them,” Davis said. “This is a perfect program for us.”
—————
Janet Jacobs may be reached via e-mail at jacobs@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “sound off” to this article? E-mail: Soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com
Here’s an episode description for the Liberty series...
Liberty: The American Revolution - PBS
http://libertymaven.com/2008/03/23/liberty-the-american-revolution-from-pbs-video/984/
LIBERTY! is a six-part series of one-hour documentaries for PBS. It describes how the American Revolution evolved and how a new nation was born in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, using actors, Revolutionary era scholars, and eyewitness accounts of the time. LIBERTY! is hosted by award winning journalist and ABC news anchor, Forrest Sawyer. Edward Herrmann is the narrator. It was originally broadcast Nov. 23 - 25, 1997.
EPISODE 1: “The Reluctant Revolutionaries” 1763-1774
In 1763, the capitol city of America is London, George Washington is lobbying for a post in the British army, and no one thinks of Boston harbor when they hear talk of tea parties. In a dozen years, the colonies are on the brink of rebellion. What happens to bring this country so quickly near war with England?
EPISODE 2: “Blows Must Decide” 1774-1776
A total break from Great Britain remains hard for Americans to imagine, even after shots are fired at Lexington and Concord. Words push matters “Over the Edge” in 1776. Common Sense argues that it is the natural right of men to govern themselves. The Declaration of Independence declares this same idea a “self-evident” truth. For Americans, there is no looking back. There will be war with England.
EPISODE 3: “The Times That Try Men’s Souls” 1776-1777
Days after the Declaration of Independence is signed, a British force arrives in New York harbor. Washington and his troops are driven to New Jersey. With only a few days of enlistment left for many of his volunteers, a desperate Washington leads his army quietly across the Delaware River on the day after Christmas, 1776, to mount a surprise attack on a sleeping garrison in Trenton.
EPISODE 4: “Oh Fatal Ambition” 1777-1778
The “united” states remain in dire need of funds and military support. Congress dispatches Benjamin Franklin to France in hopes of creating an alliance which will provide both. Meanwhile, a British army marches down the Hudson River trying to cut off New England from the other colonies. The British are crushed by Americans at Saratoga. The French enter the conflict on the American side.
EPISODE 5: “The World Turned Upside Down” 1778-1783
The British hope to exploit the issue of slavery and to enlist the support of loyalists in the south. They fail. After a series of brutal engagements, the British army heads for Virginia, only to be trapped by the miraculous convergence of Washington’s army and the French fleet at Yorktown. The end of the war is at hand.
EPISODE 6: “Are We to Be a Nation? 1783-1788
Peace comes to the United States, but governing the world’s newest republic is no simple task. Congress is ineffectual and individual states act like sovereign nations. By the time the Constitutional Convention convenes in 1787, many wonder if the country can survive. The long ratification process helps define what sort of nation the United States is to be—a process that continues to this day.
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/liberty_episodes.html
I found a book by that name in the online catalog for my local library, which says it was made into a PBS series. I’ll have to check out the book, too. I’m addicted to books like some women are addicted to shoes ;)
Search around for events that use re-enactors. In OR, there may be some events connected to Lewis & Clark Exposition. In our area there are dozens of events every weekend in the summer & fall. I present at Wolfpen Woods in KY(google for site), Mary Ingles event and Battle Days in WV. Hoping to do more this summer. You just have to get in with a group who does these events and you will get picked up by other events. It’s a great thing to do for a hobby. I present my
Katie from her actual cabin at Wolfpen Woods. It was built in 1795 and was moved to WP and rebuilt. I was presenting her before I learned that her cabin was still in existence. It has been a real thrill and honor to be able to present her there.
I had the dress made specifically for Tea Party (that’s why I did the 4th of July parade), 912 Project, and Liberty group functions.
The Lavenders Green dressmaker does most of her dresses for things that happened during the Oregon Trail, Civil War, and early pioneer history. Re-enactors are probably her biggest clients.
It would be great if Tea Party, 912 Project groups developed 1776 era programs for schools, libraries, historical groups, etc. But, the big issue would be getting through the unions, teachers, government officials, etc. Not that easy to do....but, it would be wonderful to have school programs with 1776 historical figures (Martha Washington, Abigail (Smith) Adams) that could present the philosophy and thoughts of the founders and their struggles.
Taking history into the schools is a great idea. As a matter of fact I have already asked the local school board for permission to bring Katie in for a special presentation. Since Katie was a local resident back in the settlement days, she would make the past come alive for the kids. One board member has said he would arrange it.
Peggy Shippen: Her hot looks turned the eye of Benedict Arnold.
Man, how do you maneuver that HAIR through the door?
That’s great! The next hurtle is to present programs that inform about our founding: who, what, why and when.
We can say one thing about modern times: the ladies are easier on the olfactory nerves.
But BTTT!
A fine collection of street sweepers.
Agreed. I tried to tell mine to look at history as more of a soap opera rather than stuffy old dead people and the memorization of dates like so many of their textbooks present it. They, of course, rolled their eyes. So many can’t relate that Adams, Washington and Lincoln were real people.
My late father was a major history lover, and he showed me the same thing (his favorite time period was the Civil War). My oldest (almost 13) does show an interest in history above most kids’ and does quite well in it in school, but her favorite subject is science. Takes after her dad the engineer, LOL.
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