Our group is in the process of taking another step up in authenticity with our period dress (“No, it’s not a costume!”).
If there is anyone in the ranks here who is an ex-reenactor, or has changed size or shape, and has any of the accoutrements they’d like to sell, I would appreciate a chance to consider them. Civilian especially.
Thanks in advance! 
Pictures! We want pictures!
Tom
They’re in the works. If the lense doesn’t crack.
You should contact my Dad. He recently joined C&F and his username is: Jasons old man . He’s a reenactor and does several time periods including Am. Civil War. His website is www.history-buff.org i believe.
Best of luck,
Jason
Hi Annie,
I’m sorry I can’t help with your request, but I have a question. I know several reenactors (mostly Revolutionary and Colonial up here), and they are all great folks who have a very deep interest in history and American culture. I was wondering, what attracts you to this activity? Each person I’ve met has a different story about what makes reenacting special to them. Also, could you tell us a little more about your group?
I am interested in this thread because my group performs in costume and I regularly correspond with Colonial Spanish soldier re-enactors. We perform both music of Spanish and Mexican era California, as well as Gold Rush era, which are different costumes. I have been trying to upgrade, in terms of authenticity, of late.
In my experience, true re-enactors are another breed beyond “necessity re-enactors” like us. I have to beg my music group members to have authentic clothing, because they are so expensive and musicians are typically not well-off, nor particularly interested in playing dress-up. I have found that hardcore re-enactors usually have mid-middle to upperclass incomes and do it for the love of the experience.
True re-enactors get down to the microsubtleties, like stitching, correct thread, correct dye-color, etc. etc. It’s pretty amazing.
In my experience, they are usually retired or middle-aged men (and NOT just white, either), though there are some young exceptions. yes, they love history and have the fascination for FOLKWAYS, which besides being the name of a magazine, refers to the day-to-day life patterns, beyond the usual dynamic aspect of traditional historical emphases. This includes clothing, cooking, entertainments and games, architectural styles of dwellings, birth, death and wedding ceremonial peculiarities and so on.
They are often usually parallel obsessed with genealogy and usually can bore you to tears with their lineage (well, at least I can). Also, they usually have ancestors that were in the time period and place of their interest. I have ancestors on both coasts of colonial North America, including some who fought in the Rev War as Americans, as well as Hispanic ancestors who fought against the US when Fremont and his ilk invaded California in the wake of the Mexican-American War. I also had an ancestor who had a gold mine, so its pretty easy to connect the dots.
Frankly, I think genealogy leads one into re-enacting, because as in my case, you become a short-term near expert on something that has no application beyond your geno research. So what do you do with all your knowledge? Put on a costume and go act like your ancestors, that’s what.
A few years ago, I had a genealogy “brickwall” ancestor that just showed up in New Jersey in 1680. I spent dozens of hours studying New Jersey history, seeking his name on some document or account. Never found it but man, did I suddenly know about all the founding families of New Jersey and so forth. It was kind of funny really, considering how many people make fun of New Jersey. And, because they were all Quakers, I become somewhat well-versed in Quaker history as well. I mean, very few people even know what Quakers are, much less care about their history (Cran excepted)…
But, back on point, there is definitely an income wall separating the two. One of my big-time procrastination dreams is to set up a non-profit for my group so we can chase some grant money to get truly authentic clothing. It’s really the only way to go.
There is a real paradox that authentic clothing from the early 19th century in far-off colonial Spanish California had MORE intricate stitching, embroidery and decoration than ultra high-fashion clothing of today.. or at least it seems that way. Hand-labor by meticulous and ostentation-oriented culture accounts for it.
To order a pair of the true pants wore in those days (Spanish Cal that is), would be nothing less than $300, if I could find anybody to make them. The only people I know who have them, either had a loved one do it, or did it themselves.
In fact, many true re-enactors learn to sew themselves, and we are talking mostly men here.
I have been trying to get a pair of authentic Gold Rush boots. The only outfit I have found offering the real thing of that specific era used to contract out to a Mexican company and they have ceased doing so. So I cannot get authentic boots. The last price was at least $300. The semi-authentic equivalents are in the 250-450 price range. I can get civil war boots for less, as well as Rev War boots for a bit less. So you start to get an inkling of the challenges. I have two hats on order by a hatmaker, at least $100 apiece (it;s actually a very good deal) as well.
So, for musicians who are lucky to get $100 a gig, it’s fairly courageous to ask them to upgrade, I have found. A person like me, who has feet in both worlds, has the motivation but its rare, in my experience.
That’s my two centavos…
Wow, Weeks! That’s a good hunnert bucks value in your two cents worth!
Yes, mostly what he said. Except… the closer we get to authenticity, the higher our price can be and not get laughed at. It is fun to play for the events and dances. It’s a bit of fun to dress up, though you do not want to trust a cheap corset for trussing you up comfortably!!!.. and it certainly is an investment, of time and energy, if not money, because the appropriate fabrics and styles are not all that easy to come up with. I’m finishing up a pair of period correct trousers for the hubby right now, in fact… material was a bargain (wool, cotton homespun lining and bed-ticking for interfacings). A Frock Coat is in the lists, and a new ball gown for me. One of the pitfalls is trusting other’s knowledge of what will pass muster, and what will not. I have a beautiful gown, all the right size, shape, decoration etc., but made out of a decidedly modern, and icky polyester instead of the taffeta of the day… and a seller who was not honest. .. Ah well.. you lives ‘n’ learns.
Well… back to the mines…
It’s also a bit of fun finding out what tunes have what history, and how very many of them cross all lines.
I like the fact that some people (not myself, nor any of the other members of our band, 6 inall) can get so wrapped up in recreating history.
If it fits, and everything else about it is right, couldn’t you disassemble the fake and use it as a template to cut out pieces in the correct fabric?
djm
That’s the plan… or at least it was… ripping out that many stitches from that type of material is really daunting… what I’ve decided to do is use a bodice pattern that I’ve gotten that is very accurate, and transfer the decorations to the new one. Still a big project.