fashion on the frontier

Capes and Hats

Women's clothing had many layers, and they
wore wide capes to cover them all when
the weather turned cold.
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Image: public domain

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Typical 1850s Dress

​This 1855 dress has wide pagoda sleeves, is fitted for a tiny corseted waist, and is worn with layers of petticoats underneath. 
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Image: Los Angeles County Museum of Art

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Bloomers

Before it was common for women to wear pants, the more fashionable would sometimes wear bloomers under their skirts and dresses. 
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Image: public domain

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Underneath It All

This picture shows all of the layers underneath the dress. The first layer starts with a chemise, similar to a long, loose nightgown. A snug corset went over that, with strings tightened to make the woman's shape more slim and smooth. Over that, a crinoline was sometimes worn, which was a skirt made of hoops. Women would wear one or more petticoats over the crinoline before finally putting on their dress.

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Neckties

While ties today often reach all the way down to the belt, ties back in the 1850s were shorter and wider. Detachable paper collars were common and saved laundering, which was done by hand.
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Image: public domain

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Coats

Men's coats were longer and more slim than women's capes. While women layered for a wider silhouette, men desired a more lean look for their clothing.
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Image: public domain

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