Accessories

Shoes, Aprons, Eyewear, Hair Styles, Headwear, Makeup, Toiletries and Medicine, Jewelry, and Smoking

Shoes can be a major, but very important investment. The use of canvas �coolie� slippers, are acceptable. I would not recommend them though. Most people are on their feet for hours each day at a reenactment, and these shoes do not provide needed support. The least expensive option is to purchase a plain pair of �granny� or ankle boots from any shoe store. These should be of black or brown leather, plain and devoid of extra trim, with square or rounded toes, relatively flat heels, with the smoothest sole available, and lace up the side or front. Finding the appropriate style is more important than the color. If you find the correct style, you can always dye the shoes with black leather dye. If you're lucky you may find some relatively cheap shoes at a sutler. This is very rare though. Alternately, there is nothing historically wrong with a poor woman or child going barefoot. I wouldn't recommend it. There are so many hazards. You may suffer from splinters or ants for that matter if you don't watch your step.

Aprons:

Aprons are extremely useful, easy to make, and inexpensive. You don't necessarily need one but I would highly recommend it. I'll keep your dress fairly clean. A good apron will protect your dress and provide good pockets to stash things in. (Always a good thing.) A pattern is not needed since the apron consists of gauging a rectangle of fabric and attaching to a waistband, cord or string. The apron should extend from hip to hip, and extend to within a few inches of the finished skirt. Pockets and/or a bib may be added. The bib (if desired) should not have shoulder straps, but pin directly to the bodice of your dress with two straight pins. Shoulder straps on aprons were exclusively worn by young girls and are not appropriate for grown women. Keep in mind that when a girl reached the age of about 13 or 14 she started to wear the fashions of a grown woman. The fabric should be sturdy cotton, and the color can be white, light, dark, a small plaid, check or stripe. Solid aprons are not recommended, as they tend to show stains, something the aprons were supposed to help camouflage. My white aprons are almost brown now from using it to dry plates and such. And not too mention all the spills I've had on it.

Eyewear:

Modern eyeglasses, sunglasses as well, are strongly discouraged at Civil War reenactments. Nothing is more of a contradiction than modern eyeglasses on a historically dressed individual. Oval wire frame glasses are permissible. Given the luxury status of eyeglasses in the Civil War, the best solutions include; contact lenses (a box of disposable lenses for use only at reenactments is quite reasonable), going without (if possible) or obtaining antique frames fitted with your prescription. My suggestion is to get the antique frames�contacts become difficult to deal with.

Hairstyles:

Women in the Civil War generally wore their hair all one length (no bangs or layers), parted in the center, and arranged very low at the back of the head. Center parts are required, and bangs or layers should be blended in with the hair on the side of the face as much as possible. Leave in conditioners, hairspray or mousse generally offer enough control to maintain a period hairstyle for the day. Buns, rolls, or braids made into chignons at the back neckline are appropriate. Short hair, while not common in the Civil War, was not unheard of. You may wear hairpieces if you wish. These can become quite pricey. It is also perfectly acceptable for a woman with a modern chin-length bob to simply part the hair in the center and keep it well controlled for the weekend. Hairnets or �snoods� as they may be called at the sutlers, were a style mainly limited to young, fashionable, and generally northern women. The commonly found rayon snoods are definitely not appropriate. I am speaking of the ones that can come in every color of the rainbow, and have elastic or ribbon running around the edge, and are made of a thick cording. The only "snood" truly worn in the Civil War were very fine, almost like lunch lady hairnets, and they were not worn over loose hanging hair to confine it, but over a chignon or other hairstyle, mainly to keep it neat, and the net would match the lady's hair color as closely as possible. Another style was made of ribbon or other such fancier material, could have beads or such decoration sewn on, and would be worn as a fancy headpiece to a function such as a ball or dance. I have found it difficult to use snoods with my hair loose. I�ve got extremely thick hair and try to use them in the morning before the crowds arrive to keep it back so I can help with the cooking. It doesn�t work.

Headwear:

While headwear is not required, you may find that the use of bonnets will help prevent sunburn and/or keep the rain off. Sunbonnets can be corded, or slat, and should be made out of cotton fabric that does not match your dress. Civil War era sunbonnets had an apron or �skirt� that fell well below the shoulder to completely shield the woman's neck and shoulders of the dress from the sun. Day caps are little head coverings trimmed in lace and/or ribbons, either white or black, a holdover from the 1840�s and generally only worn by much older ladies. A dress bonnet is appropriate for almost all adult female impressions, especially on Sunday. Straw hats are also acceptable.

Makeup:

Makeup was not generally worn during the Civil War. If you feel that you really must wear makeup, keep it as natural as possible. This means a minimum of foundation or powder, no eyeliner or eye shadow, and lip colors should be kept very sheer and natural. Sunscreen, however, is strongly recommended.

Toiletries and Medicine:

Modern toiletries and medicines should be stowed in a small wooden or metal box, or drawstring bag that could have been available at the time. Reproduction combs, mirrors, toothbrushes, perfume bottles, etc., are available from many sutlers. The best period hand towels are made of white cotton huckaback, available at many fabric departments. Castile soap is available at most large grocery stores.

Jewelry:

Generally, gold was the metal of choice for jewelry in the Civil War, rather than silver. If you choose to wear jewelry with a work dress, it should be limited to a simple brooch, or perhaps a belt buckle at most. For slightly dressier occasions, a pocket watch, and perhaps a pair of earrings (hook back only, no posts) that you had before the war and you could not bear to part with for �The Cause� would be appropriate. No wristwatches, high school or college rings, or modern solitaire engagement rings should be worn. Simple gold bands are excellent for married women. Chatelaines are not appropriate with work dresses, but may be worn with fancier day dresses. I wouldn't suggest bringing jewelry that is dear to you or expensive, just incase it gets lost.

Smoking:

I personally would not suggest smoking for health reasons, we all know them. But lower class Southern women were occasionally known to smoke clay or corncob pipes. Please exercise common courtesy and check with your companions to see if tobacco smoke would bother them. Cigarette use should only be used in your own closed tent (which I wouldn't suggest) or away from the historic impression area. Most don't care for the smoke and I do have to agree. Besides it's a bad habit and should be broken. :)

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