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fashionistas

Did you know colonialists often wore bright colors and patterns? Explore the world of 18th-century fashion and style.

Milliner and Mantua-maker

Be an 18th-century customer. Share your fashion needs as boxes, drawers, and bundles full of the latest ornaments and accessories, called millinery, are offered for your inspection. Consult with the mantua-maker about updating old gowns to bring them into the newest 18th-century fashion.

Tailor

Touch and feel the many different sorts of fabrics and garments that clothed colonial Americans, from elegant suits in the latest London styles to the sturdy uniforms of Revolutionary soldiers. Stay in the shop long enough, and you may be the next "customer" to be measured.

Shoemaker

How were men's shoes made 250 years ago, before modern factories and assembly lines? Come meet some the last few shoemakers who work entirely by hand and watch them make everyday and fancy footwear.

Printed Fabrics

Printed Fashions: Textiles for Clothing and Home

Open through 2018. A never before exhibited superlative collection of printed textiles that range in date from the late 17th century into the 19th century.

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Behind Closed Drawers

Behind Closed Drawers

Drop in to get a closer look at the exhibit "Printed Fashions." Then, peer into the textile study drawers and examine printed clothing and household textiles from Colonial Williamsburg's collections.

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Wigmaker

Fashion was just as important in the 18th century as today - maybe even more so if you wanted to be part of the "in crowd". Routinely wearing a wig may seeem strange to us, especially for men, but it communicated the wearer's elegance, his station in society, and even his occupation to his fellow colonists. With the skill of a barber and hairdresser combined, our wigmakers fashion "perukes" of quality and distinction.

Silversmith

Silver cups, teapots, and spoons were not just for show. They were a good way to "store" your assets. Skilled smiths transformed coins and outdated silverware into fashionable pieces for the dining room, parlour, and personal adornment. Drop in and see how our silversmiths turn ingots into works of art.

Mary Dickinson Shop

Throughout the shop, you’ll find petticoats, short gowns, cloaks, mitts, caps, and beautifully decorated straw hats—all made in Williamsburg.
Golden Ball

Golden Ball

Made Just for You – Fashionable, one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, including traditionally-made accouterments created by our very own silversmiths just next door. Choose from earrings, pendants, charms, precious gemstone rings, and more. Hand-engraving is available. Relish knowing that these items will soon be family heirlooms.

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R. Charlton's Coffeehouse

R. Charlton's Coffeehouse

Step back into the time of the Stamp Act and learn about the fashionable world of the coffeehouse, where Williamsburg's citizens and visitors met to share news, transact business, and debate politics. Meet people of the past and converse over coffee, tea, or velvety chocolate - prepared in the 18th-century manner.

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The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg

The distinctive collections of the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum are located under one roof.

EVENING PROGRAMS

The fun doesn't end just because the sun sets. Whether you're looking for some drama or to be spooked, there's something to entertain you.

Dine With Us

With a mixture of restaurants, bars, lounges, and cafés located in and around the Historic Area, you’ll find the perfect place for a historically-inspired family meal or an intimate evening of creative cuisine.