Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Different Styles Of Civil War Gowns

By Lucile Jacobs


When most people think of Civil War Gowns, the gowns are either full-figured, tight or large circular skirts with hoops and petticoats. It is this design which is most often featured as Civil War memorabilia in a number of costume and textile shops. Whereas, there were a number of different styles which women wore during the 1850s, 60s and beyond.

Considering the time, women had also been heavily encouraged to learn how to sew on sewing machines. As a result, number of garments created during the period have recently been on display at various exhibits. While never expected, many civil war buffs and others have now seen the beauty of these garments first hand.

The university also has other artifacts and garments on hold from the period not just gowns. So, if interested in the period, it might be worth a stop to check out the collection. As operating hours are often different for different buildings on most college campuses, it is often advised to call ahead for hours and ways of access before arriving at the school.

In addition, as some of the dresses and other garments have been on display at various art exhibits and shows in the past, it is also good to verify that the collection is in house. Otherwise, one might arrive only to discover that only a small portion of the collection is available. So, to assure having access to the entire collection, it is often best to confirm that all garments are on hand.

Regardless, the gowns were on display well into the New Year and included styles which school teachers might wear and those which might have been worn at balls or galas. So, there was a wide selection which those attending the exhibit could view. Of course, replicas of these period gowns are still available through many costume, online and mail order companies around the world.

Although, unless the dress has been preserved to the point of mint condition, it is often going to be hard to obtain much cash from a vintage resale shop. Whereas, if one can prove the authenticity of the piece, then it may be much more valuable to a museum than a retail store. So, it is often best to check with the museum before the resale shop.

It is believed by statements of university staff that most often those studying these artifacts and clothing are from the Northeast or scholars looking to build a thesis based on the period. Regardless, these dresses are going to prove useful to researchers for quite some time. So, whether from Northeast, a historian performing Independent Study or other individual interested in the mid-1800s to early 1900s, these dresses and gowns can often provide a great deal of first hand detail in relation to the period.

Last but not least, renting Civil War Gowns often offers more options when it comes to wearing different clothing to various events. Whereas, as these garments are often quite expensive, those whom own one often wear the same gown to different events. So, some individuals prefer renting rather than buying as it allows for more diversity when it comes to the different types of period clothing.




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