Kansas Women's
Relief Corps

The First Kansas is a non-profit organization. Any donations are tax deductible!

Please forgive us for the disarray as we reorganize and update our web page!

Lady's Minimum Clothing

• Chemise - cotton/linen slip worn next to the body
• Period drawers - just below knee-length and split crotch (which does cover completely and is much more practical, once you are wearing all these other clothing items!)
• Petticoat - of cotton/linen, to provide warmth in winter and modesty at all times
• Work dress or skirt and bodice (without hoop)
• Basic stays - a linen support garment with minimal boning, providing support but not hard to deal with appropriate shoes (daytime or working shoes were leather lace-ups or button-ups and quite substantial)
• Stockings (held up by a band of elastic called a garter)
• Period hairstyle (not a snood)
• Hat or bonnet
• Period gloves

Additional Lady's Items

• Corset - make one or have it made for you, so that you can be sure it fits correctly.
• Hoops - made with wood or metal bands held together with tapes or sewn into a cotton or linen skirt to support the skirt and give a full appearance
• or, Rope Petticoat - travels better and works just as well as hoops
• Over-the-hoop petticoat - worn to conceal the ribs of the hoop, works well with flounces (or ruffles)
• Day dress - the most commonly worn garment of the period; highly decorated with braid, ribbon, lace, or flounces; high necked, as society decreed that a lady's neck and shoulders should be covered during the day

"Once You Are More Active" Items

• Ball gown - for evening or party wear only; cut low off the shoulder to reveal the neck and bosom; more richly decorated than the day dress and worn with flowered and ribboned headpieces
• Period accessories - parasol, knitting or quilting squares, a basket to carry purchases, etc

It is a very good idea to contact a member of the KWRC for help selecting patterns and/or "off-the-rack" items. They can help you be sure that the items you are selecting are appropriate for the image you would like to portray, and also give you advice on how to choose fabrics and construction methods. Making your own clothing is the best, most cost effective way to go about clothing yourself!

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This page is maintained by Margretta de Vries and was last updated on October 30, 2006.