While most of my Style File Friday posts focus on fashion history and different resources that we can use, I do try to look at my own wardrobe, too. (I love getting a sneak peak into other people’s closets, and I don’t think I’m alone in that.) My style has certainly evolved over the years, even since I started the blog in 2015. You won’t see a massive change but I would like to think it is more refined and thoughtful. And one question I am asked rather frequently is how history has influenced my wardrobe. So for this Style File Friday, I’ll give you a behind-the-scenes look and show you the historical influences behind my clothing…
Dressing like Historical Figures?
Shockingly, I’m not a huge fan of historical dress on myself. I think that the amount of study, work, and skill that people put into making historically accurate garments is incredible, and they should be celebrated. However, I do not like wearing them. As a dancer, it feels like a costume, and there is a specific time and place that I wear costumes. I associate it with pretending to be someone else, and putting on a performance, and that doesn’t make me comfortable in my day to day life. You will never see me walking down the street in a Regency gown, though I will be applauding and admiring those who do!
I wrote an entire post on using historical inspiration in your own wardrobe and making it work for your life, if you are interested: https://anhistorianabouttown.com/style-inspiration/. However, history also influences my wardrobe in fairly subtle ways that still end up making a big difference.
Reusing and Repurposing Clothing
From the wealthiest aristocrats to the poorest labourers, for much of history people reused and repurposed their clothing. They didn’t just use it as a single garment and then throw it away when done. It was mended and re-worn, or it was handed down to someone else to wear (or sell, as some servants would do). Or it could be repurposed into another item, be it for household use or something else. Just think of the Bacton Altar Cloth. It survived for several centuries as the altar cloth at St. Faith’s Church in Bacton, only to be confirmed in 2015 as Queen Elizabeth I’s only surviving gown! (I mean, realistically most of our clothing/textiles will not end up as a venerated religious item but they can still have further lives.)
Not all materials lend themselves well to being rags or household textiles. (A lot of synthetic fibres can’t hold any water, which is usually what I use them for after.) I’ve tried to think more carefully about purchasing clothing that I can’t do anything with after, so going forward it won’t come up as much. However, for those garments that do, I have many purposes. The aforementioned rags, but also cutting old t-shirts and sheets into strips to hide in Agnes’ toys. (Supervise your pet when you give them treats hidden in things!) If you are painting anything, it never hurts to have extra cloth around to wipe your hands. Cotton can also be cut and/or sewn into reusable rounds to take your make-up off. All this is to say, there is a lot your can do with clothing once you are done wearing it.
Buying Second Hand
As I said above, historically people would pass their garments on to family members or servants when they were done wearing them. I still do give clothing away now and then when someone fits and wants something, but overall, most people aren’t giving theirs away. (I know clothing swaps are coming back in the last 5 or so years, but they never took off where I am.) So, I then moved to buying second hand whenever I can.
Buying second hand clothing does take quite a bit of work. If you are looking for specific pieces or styles, you will probably have to use a variety of sites/stores. And buying second hand isn’t necessarily going to save you a ton. For some second hand pieces, I’ve paid 80% of the original retail price.
However, I have chosen to focus on the fact that I am giving the garment a second (or third) life. Our ancestors didn’t have garbage bins to toss things into when they got bored of wearing them (or after never wearing them), they passed them on. As a society, we have gotten out of the habit of repairing and mending clothing. A lot of second hand clothing has a button missing or some loose threads, but these are easily fixed.
Not Jumping on Every Trend
It can be tempting to jump on every new clothing trend that emerges. However, that without fail will lead to all of us buying clothing we will barely wear before moving on. (We’ve all seen the stats on the percentage of clothing we own that we have never worn…) If you’ve watched Bridgerton you would have noticed that Queen Charlotte and her ladies wore the older mantua style dress instead of the much sleeker Regency silhouette. Court dress tends to be an extreme example of favouring older styles instead of new. But it can be an excellent reminder- you don’t need to adopt a new trend simply because it is new. Older styles can still serve their purposes, and if they work for you, they work.
There is a flip side to that as well. I know a few people who get rid of clothing after 5 years maximum, no matter what condition it is in. If it were me, I would recommend evaluating it at a set time but not necessarily getting rid of it. If a piece is in good condition, there is no reason to get rid of it just because. If you have cared for your clothing properly, it may still look and wear well- celebrate that!
I’ve shared how history has influenced my wardrobe; how has it influenced yours?
Cheers,
The Historian
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Bloglovin’
