Title: Women’s Clothing Guidelines for 18th Century Clothing – New Acquisition Militia
Headings: Women’s Clothing Guidelines for 18th Century Clothing
Women’s Clothing Guidelines for 18th Century Clothing
CLOTH AND STYLE
WOMEN
PEOPLE TO CONTACT FOR HELP WITH CLOTHING:
SUGGESTED PATTERNS MAKERS:
Period Impressions

Content: It would be appropriate for an older woman to wear a garment that pre-dated her time period by up to several decades. The word, ‘gown’, to the modern ear, indicates something fancy but that was not the case in the 18th century. A gown was simply a style of garment. It was the fabric used and its’ construction that made the gown plain or fancy. To achieve the proper shape for the 18th century, a gown MUST be worn with stays (see below). A gown worn with modern underpinnings does not fit right and will not look ‘period’, even to the untrained eye. 9. CAPS- Fabrics-fine white linen is the best, white cotton can be used. All females of all ages and stages in life wore caps, including while wearing hats.. Colored silk ribbon was often worn around the brim of the cap and tied in a bow. The hair needs to be pulled up and out of sight.