> I hesitate to tell a real newbie what she or he mustn't do, for fear
> they'll do it. But I guess I can take a picture of the worst of the
> "don't go there" garments, for an example of what to avoid.
They will do it why - because they have been advised not to, or
because they see it and miss where you say "don't"?
In that case, a bit more explanation might help. Have the pictures
of the worst and ten minutes worth of WHY.
I guess I'm paranoid about docents wanting to do a cutesy Laura Ashley
look. I've seen too much of that on docents at sites around here (tho
never from re-enactors) and in fact I volunteered to be the costume person
here in hopes of preventing this very thing. But, to give credit where
it's due, all the other female characters in the program (of which I am one
third of those who remain), either wore corsets or achieved a corseted look
somehow. And a real costumer made all our stock of dresses but that awful
one.
The worst of the costumes we have in stock are ones which were donated by
well meaning individuals who thought they looked right. And since we're a
historical museum it will be almost impossible to de-acquisition (= get rid
of) these pieces. But I am now in a position where I can put them all into
a box and seal it, and refuse to issue them to anyone. And I guess I could
put someone into the bad example dress, photograph it, and use the image to
hold down the zero end of the scale of one to ten where ten is our perfect
ideal.
I don't know your era, but for Rev War we would say "this is a
gathered circle cap. You see it on reenactors, in theme restuarants,
etc, but it did not exist in the actual 18thC. The earliest we know
it was worn was 1888. Meanwhile here are some pattern sources for
appropriate caps. There are several choices and people tend to find
them more flattering than the gathered circle."
Nice wording. I'll have to remember that, subject only to the conditions
mentioned below.
I'm guessing there are some typical errors/misconceptions about your
site. Especialy emphasize how the right way is more attractive. :-)
We do 1901. There is a posture shown in many contemporary illustrations
where the bust is pushed forward and the butt is pushed backward, such that
a standing woman is bent into an S-shaped curve (think Gibson Girl). I can
hardly present this un-natural, but historically correct, posture as
flattering. (It's really hard on the back too - I've tried it.) But many
dated contemporary photographs show women not exhibiting this posture. So
I'm going to have to be careful playing the "flattering" card here. And
the silhouette I present as the one to copy will have to be taken from the
moderate end of what was done in our period.
CarolynKayta Barrows
dollmaker, fibre artist, textillian
www.FunStuft.com
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