Wanting help to gather proper dress for impression

[Karen L]

Hello, I am quite new here. I'm an older lady (Not ancient!) and I wish to do a civilian woman in mourning impression. Any help anyone can give me as to where to buy proper clothing, shoes, undergarments, etc. would be gratefully received.

I'm hoping to join our local Ladies Auxiliary of the GAR in my hometown (Johnstown, PA) and to do a faithful and honest representation. I could go into my Civil War relatives in depth but that is for another place and time.

So far I have a bonnet and veil coming and I got a small pin, not sure if it's really a mourning pin.

Glad to have found this forum!!

Thanks.

Karen Largent

[Elaine Kessinger]

Re: Wanting help to gather proper dress for impression

There is no "one stop shop" for women's ready-mades... and some you really do want to buy bespoke or made-to-measure for some items.

A few tips:

Here's your order of purchase:
chemise and drawers- they protect your corset from your body and make the corset more comfortable to wear
CORSET- yes, this is a necessity and it must fit you specifically well. It supports the weight of petticoats, skirt foundation, and dress skirts, so it's important to your comfort as well as the fit of your clothing.
Petticoats and skirt supports
Dress (with collar and undersleeves/cuffs if the dress style requires them)
Stockings, shoes
Bonnet
Outerwear

Remember that public deep mourning was reserved for immediate family of the deceased being honored. For general cemetery maintenance or general public at a ceremony, sympathetic mourning (or somber best) was used.
Widow's Weeds were an outward request for space and privacy for the bereaved. A woman wearing them is saying, "I'm dressed and out of the house. This is all I have strength for now. Don't ask me for more."
Much research was done by Elaine Masciale and Nancy Gasiel for the 150th of Pres. Lincoln's funeral, including several presentations. I can come up with biblographical sources if needed.

So...
For Underpinnings: Handstitches In Time, Originals By Kay, Abraham's Lady
For Corsets: Originals By Kay, Lady In White
For Shoes: Robert Land, Missouri Boot & Shoe, NJ ************, Historic Clothiers, American Duchess
For Dress: Originals By Kay, Abraham's Lady, or find a dress-maker near you.
For Bonnet: Timely Tresses, Miller's Millinery, Mrs. Murphy's Emporium
Jewelry: Jewelry4Reenactors, Southern Serendipity
Rosettes, Cockades, Badges: Creative Cockades, Creative Rosettes

PS- Not a one of these has been vetted by the Authentic Campaigner. They are not Approved Vendors of the Authentic Campaigner. The worth of these merchants is my opinion and should not be taken as official endorsement by the Authentic Campaigner forum.