A Taste of the 18th Century

Lacing, tightening, petticoat after petticoat, tightening again, pinning, straightening, it's no wonder women from the 1700s needed maids. Just to get the costumes on took Elle and myself an hour. Once everything is on, you're about to have a heat stroke.

To begin, you have a chemise. It's your undergarment and your night clothes. It's basically a simple, plain long quarter sleeve shirt. Next your first petticoat, a simple skirt that ties around your waist. If we were really dancing up for the 18th century, we would add one or two more petticoats.

Then the corset goes on. Surprisingly, the corset is the most comfortable of all the period clothing. It provides support for your back and stomach. I think I might steal one to use for fencing, dance, and figure skating. Very useful item. The only disadvantage is that it is very stiff and you can't move as easily. My corset (or stays) was too big and so we have to pin it smaller and then Elle laced it all the way together and it still wasn't as tight as it should have been. Guess I'm just a little small. After your corset, you may add more petticoats or a pocket.

A pocket is a bag on a string with a slit in it. It would be tied around your waist. "Mary Locket lost her pocket" actually could happen. If it came untied, or if the sting broke, you lost your pocket. Pickpockets would only cut the string around the ladies waist, their pockets fall and with them, their fortunes. Cool, huh?

On goes your overskirt. Here comes your over-jacket, which is pinned if too large. Your hair must be "fancified", either intricate braiding with a ribbon or flowers in your hair. If neither can be done, you must wear a cap. Caps were more common, probably because no one had time to do hair everyday. Stockings, white or black, are put on. The corset prevented me from putting my socks on, so Elle had to do it for me.

Shoes finish the arrangement. After that, you are suitable to appear in public. You make have a pinafore, which is actually pinned to you. Thus it was named "pin-a-fore" for you pinned it "a-fore" your chest. Also, a fishu (it looks like a big plain handkerchief) goes around your neck and tucks into your chemise.

When all is done, you feel very small and tight and look in the mirror to see a very large woman due to all the clothing. It's a very contradicting experience.

Dancing it was awesome. We just did two dances as demonstrations for media day, but it was great. I'll post more on the actual reenactment (Saturday & Sunday) later.