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Social History Resources: Clothing

We take it for granted that we can walk into a store to purchase clothing to suit our needs and wants. The choices are endless. It wasn't so easy for our ancestors. Many lived in remote areas where stores were few. How did your ancestors clothe themselves and their families? What did they wear and how did they acquire clothing to meet their needs? Clues can be found in your ancestors' wills, estate inventories, diaries, and photographs. Look for newspapers, catalogues, store ledgers and account books, and magazines from the time and place where your ancestor lived to learn about the styles and trends of their time. Then, use the research questions to the right to guide you in your research. Social History Topics Clothing Entertainment Family and Home Life Food Housing Work/Occupations	Resources on the Web The Costume Gallery - 1700s Costume Image Sites A guide to the 1700s period fashion including the Restoration, Cavalier and Baroque styles. Civil War Fashions from Bits of Blue and Gray Detailed description of clothing for both men and women during the Civil War Era. 18th Century Clothing from Colonial Williamsburg Pictures, images, and descriptions of clothing found in and around Williamsburg during the eighteenth century. Go behind the scenes to learn about the construction of the garments. Dressing Up - A Timeline of Women's Fashion in the 19th Century Learn about nineteenth century Victorian fashion with all its frills, flounces, lace, braid, and fringe from the "uncomfortable and inconvenient" to the "frivilous and decorative." Victorian Bridal Gowns from Harper's Bazaar (c. 1867-1884) Actual sketches of bridal gowns from the pages of the popular magazine from the late 1800s. The Late 19th and Early 20th Century Ladies' Dress Glossary Glossary of terms related to the clothing worn by women during the 1800s and 1900s. Flapper Fashion of the 1920s Fashion trends from the 1920s including everything from outerwear to intimate apparel with links to images. History of the Bathing Suit Follow the history and evolution of the bathing suit beginning in the late 18th century through the 1920s. Civil War Era Fashions and Hairstyles Clothing and hairstyle trends during the Civil War period are examined and explained through the use of actual photographs.	Research Questions What were the prevailing styles of the day? Were shoes fancy or functional? Were clothes homemade or bought in a store? Who sewed the family's clothes? What types of stores might have sold clothes and shoes? What types of fabrics might their clothes have been made of? Was the fabric homemade or store bought? How were children's clothes different from adult clothes? Were accessories (i.e., hats, scarves, etc.) an important element of fashion? What length did women wear their dresses? What were the styles and colors women chose for their wedding dresses?