Clothing
: Millinery Shop
: The Millinery Shop
by Edward R. Crews
|
 |
 |
Milliner would change its meaning significantly in the 19th Century, which creates confusion
among visitors. By the preferred by women later in the century.
By offering many goods,
the 18th Century millinery shop attracted a wide range of customers, Whitacre
said. A Colonial Williamsburg milliner probably served every class from the
plantation owner to his slaves, who needed pins, needles and thread.
 |
| Millinery shop owner Margaret Hunter, portrayed by Janea Whitacre (left), examines some of her
cloth inventory with interpreters Doris Warren (center) and Krista Haines (right). |
The best customers, though,
were people with money, according to Whitacre. That meant the upper class and
the middle class -- planters, tradesmen and shopkeepers. Modern Americans frequently
are surprised to learn that these groups had clothes made for them by others.
"An impression we often
encounter is that people in this period commonly made their own cloth and clothing,"
Whitacre said. "The truth is that very little of this was done at home. There
simply wasn't enough time for one family to make its own cloth and clothing."
In addition, clothing producers
knew then -- as they do now -- that one way to keep sales humming was to keep
styles changing. The whirl of fashion during the 1700s was endless and often
contradictory. Consider these facts. During the 18th Century, ladies' skirt
styles changed five times. It was not unheard of for hat styles to change 17
times during a 2-year period.
Another factors that kept
fashion in a stir was that no enduring consensus existed during the period as
to what constituted stylish clothing. Commentators couldn't even agree on whether
or not clothes made the man. It is impossible therefore even for just one year,
like 1774, to say anything too absolute about what was appropriate, desired
or trendy.
This lack of consensus,
however, didn't blunt Virginians fascination with fashion, a fascination that
might have been just a bit too keen. You get a sense that maybe Colonial Virginians
were trying somewhat too hard to keep up with their English cousins.
"I came across a letter
while doing some research that warned an Englishman planning a trip to the colonies
that he'd better dress 'up' for success, if he was coming to Virginia," Whitacre
said. "The letter writer said to him that you can get by in London without paying
too much attention to your clothes. But, in Virginia, you'd better wear your
best to make the right impression."
| 
Historic Triangle