Civil war fashion

Since we help to host three Civil War balls in the South Carolina Upstate, we often get questions about what a Civil War ball dress looks like. Some folks think all you need is a Big Skirt and presto - an 1860s ball gown! Um, sorry folks - not quite! :) Think of how fashion works today. Can you immediately tell the different between a 1981 wedding dress and a 2011 wedding dress? Of course! But let's a say a Time Traveler from AD 2200 looks at a photo of Princess Diana and Princess Kate side…

In the early summer of 2017, I was commissioned by director Walcene Metayer and costume designer Rebecca Joy Lewis to create an authentic dress for the Civil War Era film The Fighting Road. It was …

Warm weather is here and for Civil War reenactors, it's time to bring out those sheer dresses! Wait, sheer dresses, you ask? The modest Victorians actually wore outfits that you could see through? Yes indeed! After all, what was there to see? Lots of undergarments, that's what! :) At the 150th Kennesaw reenactment fashion show, I kept cool in my light weight sheer! Reenactors are often asked in the summer time whether they are hot in their 1860s outfits. The answer is, if you are wearing the…

1860s Civil War Era Dress: This dress was inspired by a number of old photographs of 1860s dresses. The style presented here better represents the clothes worn by the working class rather than the upper class. To make this dress you will need: About seven metres of fabric…

Since we help to host three Civil War balls in the South Carolina Upstate, we often get questions about what a Civil War ball dress looks like. Some folks think all you need is a Big Skirt and presto - an 1860s ball gown! Um, sorry folks - not quite! :) Think of how fashion works today. Can you immediately tell the different between a 1981 wedding dress and a 2011 wedding dress? Of course! But let's a say a Time Traveler from AD 2200 looks at a photo of Princess Diana and Princess Kate side…

Now’s the time to release ALL the wonderful photos of my 1860’s Ballgown! My photographer, Smile for Sophie Photography, is an absolute wonder! Her work is truly spectacular. Don’t you …

If you're a first-time reenacting lady, heading for "sutler row" to buy your first outfit, you'll see them everywhere. Beautiful billowing white peasant blouses and lovely full flowered skirts. Perfect! You find a set in your size and POOF! You're a reenactress! Then you get on a reenactor online forum and you see this discussion about "the dreaded skirt and blouse combo." You read it and you're in the dumps - apparently the mismatched skirt and blouse are ALL WRONG and were never worn…

Here's a young Civil War era couple - don't they look very formal. This is a CDV (Cartes de Visit) photograph. They were photog...

Learn about Anne Hastings, played by Tara Summers in Mercy Street on PBS. Anne is a controlling, seductive Englishwoman whose claim to fame is her experience working with Florence Nightingale in the Crimea.