Hi Robin,
If he's working class, long trousers would be fine. I
understand going with breeches since that reads more as a historic
costume.
Stockings: get black stockings and black shoes. I know in the
1770s, servants wore colored stockings. Possibly they looked cleaner
than white. :-)
If you have black shoes and black stockings, neither will be
emphasized so you don't have to worry so much about them being good.
I think the neckstock is a great idea, and that way you don't
have to worry at all about the collar on the shirt. I don't agree
about a mandarin collar, since shirts of the time had collars. But
it's moot if he has a neck stock. :-)
-Carol
On Sep 1, 2010, at 12:07 PM, Robin Netherton wrote:
This is all really useful! I've been having a terrible time finding
good images online because the "costume" sources all seem to focus
on East Coast "Colonial" or all-leather "Daniel Boone" styles with
not much in between. I will need to take time for a slow perusal
through art and such, but time is just what I don't have right now.
Great idea from Denise about a mandarin collared shirt, which may
save me the trouble of making new. (I hate sewing for a growing boy
who will outgrow it before the next year's event!) Goodwill, here I
come.
A look at photos from previous events at the site in question shows
lots of breeches like Albert described. I can modify a pair of my
kid's outgrown khaki pants for these. A couple of questions for
those of you who've done it: First, how low do I cut them off? I'm
thinking below the knee, maybe by a couple of inches; he'll need to
be sitting when he performs and needs freedom of movement, and I
don't want them binding at the knee when he bends his leg. Second,
how best to fasten the band at the bottom of the pants leg? With a
button (what type?) or something else?
I'm thinking on the line of girls' plain white kneesocks to cover
the calf, unless someone tells me otherwise. Shoes, I'm probably
stuck with the black athletics unless there are moccasins or boots
in the right size at Goodwill, but I can get away with the shoes;
any attempt at costume will be welcome, and it's not a strict re-
enactment.
--Robin
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