Ahh, What to Wear
As with times gone by there is still the worry about what to wear for certain events or for just doing the daily work that needs to be done. It’s the same as it has been for over 100 years, what should I wear?
When you visit the Fashion Museum in Abilene, Kansas you will see clothing that has been worn during different times over the past 100 years. Some of it you will be so glad you don’t have to wear and other outfits you will think are so pretty you wish you could wear them.
The 1850’s had their own style. There were garments that we don’t even give a thought to today such as men’s drawers, long and short. These draw string drawers were ankle length and made of medium weight cotton sheeting. The short drawers are linen twill (2 over, 1 under). Certainly different than the undergarments men wear today.
Men’s shirts were different too, in the mid-nineteenth century. The fabric was usually cotton sheeting for the body of the shirt and fine linen for the collars, cuffs, and plaited fronts. The styles usually had a square cut, drop-shouldered style with underarm gussets.
Women also had a different challenge. Their dresses, from 1850 – 1862, were often two piece outfits with the bodice either having a loose fitting bodice with bishop sleeves or a peg-top sleeve that fit more snugly. They were held together with either buttons or hooks and eyes. The skirts, whether gathered or plaited in either box or knife plaits, were floor length and made of either thin cotton or light-weight wool.
Corsets, ball gowns and off shoulder dresses were part of the life of many of the women from the era in the 1860’s. Made from undyed light weight cotton drill they corsets were standard fare.
Ever heard of a “round dress”? These were called round dresses because the bodice was attached to the wasteband rather than being separate like so many of the dresses were at the time. They had a drop-shouldered yoke with the bodice being lined and lightly boned front closing. The sleeves were often banded just below the yoke and then flared above the elbow for freedom of movement.
Shudder to think what the people of the 1850’s would think of the clothing styles of the 1960’s with the bell bottom pants and the mini-skirts. But walk through the museum and you will be able to travel through time in the clothing styles.
Come to 212 N Broadway in Abilene, Kansas any Tuesday – Saturday from 10 – 4 and tour the museum. The cost is just $3 per person with children under 12 free. If those hours don’t work for you they will make arrangements with you if you call them ahead.
