The fashion in the 1860's is very different from today. Women wore huge skirts, aprons as casual wear, and undergarments that went to their knees. Crazy, right? Today, we don't go out of the house with garments we wear to cook with oBn, we don't wear long undergarments, and the hoop skirt is clearly not the hottest trend right now. How exactly did the women dress during the Civil War? Keep reading to find out how different the fashion was back in the 1860's.
women's clothing
What they wore under their dresses
Women wore dresses almost everyday. On formal occasions, such as parties and church events, they would wear a two-piece dress with hoops. Most of their dresses were made of cotton. Under their dresses, they wore chemises. These shirt-like undergarments go to the knee. Corsets were worn as an undergarment to shape the woman's figure. They also wore pantalettes under their dresses. These were lace-trimmed, loose trousers that were made of cotton. When women wore hoop skirts, they needed two petticoats, which were clothing items worn over pantalettes. They wore long cotton stocking, held by garters, also under their dresses. This was very casual back in the 1860's.
What they wore over their dresses
Women's version of casual back in the Civil War days is our version of formal. They wore cotton aprons over their dresses that went to their knees to keep their dresses clean. Unlike how we dress now, they wore aprons even when they weren't preparing food. Women had a few choices of what type of coat to wear out when it was cold; they could wear a wool cloak, a heavy flannel, or a knitted shawl. These were very fashionable coats.
Women wore dresses almost everyday. On formal occasions, such as parties and church events, they would wear a two-piece dress with hoops. Most of their dresses were made of cotton. Under their dresses, they wore chemises. These shirt-like undergarments go to the knee. Corsets were worn as an undergarment to shape the woman's figure. They also wore pantalettes under their dresses. These were lace-trimmed, loose trousers that were made of cotton. When women wore hoop skirts, they needed two petticoats, which were clothing items worn over pantalettes. They wore long cotton stocking, held by garters, also under their dresses. This was very casual back in the 1860's.
What they wore over their dresses
Women's version of casual back in the Civil War days is our version of formal. They wore cotton aprons over their dresses that went to their knees to keep their dresses clean. Unlike how we dress now, they wore aprons even when they weren't preparing food. Women had a few choices of what type of coat to wear out when it was cold; they could wear a wool cloak, a heavy flannel, or a knitted shawl. These were very fashionable coats.
Accessories
Women wore small purses, called reticules. On their blouses, bodices, and camp dresses, they had to have at least 7 buttons. If you had more, you would have to have an odd number of buttons. If a button fell off, they would always have one sewn under the waistline, ready to be replaced. These buttons were made out of bone, ivory, wood, pewter, and pearl. Antique jewelry, such as earrings and collar pins, were always used in formal occasions.
Women wore small purses, called reticules. On their blouses, bodices, and camp dresses, they had to have at least 7 buttons. If you had more, you would have to have an odd number of buttons. If a button fell off, they would always have one sewn under the waistline, ready to be replaced. These buttons were made out of bone, ivory, wood, pewter, and pearl. Antique jewelry, such as earrings and collar pins, were always used in formal occasions.