Their
ress is called regalia. They are offended if you call it costume
Now here is another interesting use of a word for one's clothing and
accouterments. Had to look up exactly what "regalia" means--I have of course
seen it to mean one's trappings, outfit, etc. Its origin, though, which makes
sense if one thinks about it, is the rights and privileges belong to a monarch
or ruler.
I referred to myself as a costume historian to a War of 1812 reenactor, and he
insisted his outfit is clothing, not costume. Yet, among square dancers, the
preferred term for the matching outfits worn by everyone on the committee of a
national square dance convention is "costume."
Clothing, apparel, attire, costume, regalia--I guess it is like one's own
personal name--one should use the term the individual (or group) prefers.
However, one shouldn't be offended if a poor soul uses the wrong term because
one doesn't know what that group prefers!
Ann Wass
-----Original Message-----
From: penny1a <[email protected]>
To: 'Historical Costume' <[email protected]>
Sent: Tue, Oct 12, 2010 4:41 am
Subject: Re: [h-cost] I found my way back!
Hi Kathy,
Long time since we have chatted. They didn't film me at my request...I was
oing on no sleep and looked like crap. They were looking for American
reasures to film. Since my collection is French they weren't that
nterested in filming it, thank goodness. I just really wanted to know the
ollection's value for insurance purposes. You might see me in the
ackground when they show the bear skin rug. I was at the table behind
hem. The show airs in 2011.
Pow-wow...I was trying to figure out the same thing about the headdress.
here were about five men with this style headdress and various styles of
ake-up. The photos that I am going to put on my website are high
esolution. So you might be able to tell more from those photos.
BTW, the Indians at the pow-wow are not just Chickahominy people. I learned
lot by going to this event. First, the Chickahominy are the people who
idnapped Jamestowne's John Smith. Second, at a pow-wow, the host is the
hickahominy. They invited Indian nations from all over the U.S. Their
ress is called regalia. They are offended if you call it costume. It may
ake a lifetime to complete their regalia. Some of the regalia may be
nherited from an ancestor. The Chickahominy holds classes to teach their
oung people how to loom-bead and create their regalia. The Jingle Girls
ave an interesting history behind the bells on their regalia. The bells
re made with old tobacco or snuff tin lids. We have some beautiful video
f them dancing. The jingle makes an enchanting sound. You can see a
lose-up photo of a Jingle Girl's skirt on the Henricus slideshow.
FYI, Henricus is up-river from Jamestowne. Pocahontas and John Rolfe were
arried there.
Penny Ladnier
wner, The Costume Gallery Websites
ww.costumegallery.com
4 websites of fashion, textiles, & costume history
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