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Sponsored by The Ladies of Refined Taste & Friends
and Minute Man National Historical Park
The Challenge – Women's Clothing
Note: Though completely hand-sewn garments are preferred, machine sewing is only acceptable when it cannot be seen. All visible parts of your garment need to be hand stitched.
Stays (preferable) or jumps: Hand-stitched preferable but not required.
Shift: Linen fabric, hand-stitched preferred but not required. Any exposed sections of the shift like cuffs, ruffles, neckline need to be hand finished. Shifts should be of period construction without drawstrings, full-length sleeves or made of cotton muslin.
Petticoats: Hand-stitched preferable but not required. No printed cotton petticoats unless they match the gown being worn. We strongly encourage the wearing of hand-stitched quilted petticoats (due to the commonality of this item), or matching petticoats if wearing a silk or printed cotton gown.
Gowns: Hand-stitched in a fabric appropriate for your impression and sewn in a period manner. A stomacher front gown/en fourreau is the recommended style. Polonaise, or separate bodice and skirt gowns and closed front gowns are a later style not documentable to NE 1773. Note: Fabrics must be appropriate to 1773 or earlier.
Bed Gown—if appropriate for your impression. Needs to be hand finished and worn over stays or jumps.
Short gowns and caracos are not acceptable for this event as they have not been adequately documented to New England 1773. Jackets for women are so sparsely represented in period sources, as to discourage their wearing at this event, unless, of course, reasonable primary source documentation can be provided.
Apron: Hand-stitched, fabric appropriate to your impression and year.
Cap: Hand-stitched, appropriate to your age, impression and year.
Hat or bonnet: Hats will be decorated only in a period manner, with documentation. Silk flowers are not acceptable.
Handkerchief: Hand-hemmed, made of fabric appropriate to your impression. Use of lace and trims should be approved before using.
Stockings: Due to the lack of affordable accurate hose, the standard-issue modern woven stockings available from the sutlers is acceptable. White stockings for the upper class. Lower class impressions need to document their stocking color choice. Every effort will be made to develop a better alternative in this area.
Shoes: Reproduction shoes are mandatory, hand-made ones are encouraged but certainly not required due to lack of availability and cost.
Eyeglasses: Modern frame glasses are not acceptable.
Jewelry: If worn, period correct jewelry.
Accessories: Must be consistent with your overall impression and social class.
Special Cases: People with physical disabilities or those with physical issues that prevent them from meeting standards in certain areas are strongly encouraged to find period solutions to explain or disguise issues.