Say Yes to the Dress Time Machine! ~ Vintage Dress Outfitting

Are you interested in vintage dress? Many DAR members step back in time and dress in period clothing representing valiant women in American history for public events, parades and chapter and state meetings. This optional activity can be fun and Colonial America dress helps us tell the story of our Patriot ancestors and the DAR. As America 250 approaches, a vintage outfit might come in handy.

You might ask, what is a corset? What kind of hat do I need, and how is it worn? What fabrics should I use to look more authentic? (Hint: Polyester was first used in 1941) 
You can sew your own or buy something ready made for you, but first you might wish to learn the historical basics.

Here are a few links to get you started-Colonial America,18th to 19th Century Women's Clothing  ~  Huzzah!
Mary Ball Member Pam Gassman gives an overview of dressing in 18th Century Clothing:

• Daughters of Liberty 18th Century Women's Fashions Part 1
• Daughters of Liberty 18th Century Women’s Fashion Part 2

More videos:

• Dressing up in and 1780’s  robe a l'anglaise

Skirts are fairly easy - here’s the basics of ​

• Sewing an 18th Century Skirt
• More skirt sewing -no pattern needed

Patterns: JP RYAN PATTERNS
Authentic reproduction Colonial era fabrics at the Colonial Williamsburg store
Hat Making ideas

• Colonial straw hat
• More on straw hat decorating

​19th Century
Pioneer America, Washington Territory, Victorian Era 1830s to the 1890 Gilded Age

• Pre-hoop early  1840-1855 
• Hoop Skirts 1856-1869  (Civil War)

What did they wear in 1894? (the year our chapter was founded)

•  BIG SLEEVES
• More ideas and history at Truly Victorian (Outfitters)

1840-1920 Suffragettes- Remember that DAR founder Mary Smith Lockwood was committed to Women’s Suffrage as were many of our early DAR members.

• Votes for Women Sash -American Suffragette Sash colors are Purple, White and Gold/Yellow. (Note that in England, the suffragette colors were Purple, White and Green.)
• The sunflower became a symbol of the American women's suffrage movement in 1867.

20th Century

• ​Edwardian era 1900-1917 
• [Google] WWI, Hello Girls, Nurse Corps, WWII, Rosie the Riveters, WAVES, WACS, Korea-Vietnam to Modern Military

​There are tutorials for many eras on YouTube and outfitter's websites-Search by Era or styles.
Resources and Outfitters​
​Vintage Clothing patterns, costumes and accessory suppliers can be found searching:

• Etsy.com
• Townsends.us
• Colonial Williamsburg online shop
• Sampson Historical
• Silhouettes Historic Costumes 
• JP Ryan's Patterns

Local Artisans:

• Look for historical costumes and accessories at festivals, fairs and historic reenactment gatherings.

Please Note:
Links to information and commercial websites here are provided solely for educational purposes and do not imply endorsement of any source, business, or their goods and services. ​