The allure of Victorian gowns with their layers, colors, and elegant ribbons is undeniable. But what about the Fashionable Clothing For Women on the American Western frontier? Between 1850 and 1890, west of Missouri and Arkansas, pioneer women developed a unique style that blended practicality with the prevailing fashion trends of the era. This article delves into the fascinating world of pioneer clothing, exploring the undergarments, fabrics, daily wear, Sunday best, and accessories that defined women’s fashion on the frontier.
Undergarments: The Foundation of Fashionable Clothing for Women
Similar to their Eastern counterparts, pioneer women wore chemises, light cotton slips for hygiene, and pantalets for modesty. Surprisingly, corsets were also a staple, reflecting the societal values these women carried with them to the West. While practicality dictated loosening or even foregoing corsets during strenuous tasks, they were considered a fundamental part of fashionable clothing for women. Petticoats, in varying numbers depending on the occasion and weather, completed the undergarment ensemble. Stockings, held up by garters or tucked into pantalets, were worn when leaving the house or receiving visitors.
Fabrics: Calico and Beyond
Calico, a sturdy and easily cleaned unprocessed cotton fabric, was the material of choice for everyday pioneer clothing. While often associated with floral prints, calico was available in various dyed colors, either store-bought or created using natural dyes from leaves, berries, and bark. For special occasions, women would don more luxurious fabrics like cotton and silk, often brought with them from the East. The availability of fabrics depended on access to general stores, which varied greatly across the frontier. Many families also made their own fabrics, a testament to their resourcefulness.
Daily Wear: Adapting Fashion to Frontier Life
Life on the frontier demanded practicality. Pioneer women participated in manual labor, from cooking and cleaning to working in the fields. Fashionable clothing for women needed to accommodate this active lifestyle. While maintaining the fitted bodices and full skirts of the era, pioneer women shortened their skirts by three inches for ease of movement, sometimes adding weights to the hems to prevent unwanted exposure on windy days. Loose sleeves worn to the wrist and high collars provided protection from the sun. “Wash dresses,” two-piece cotton garments designed for easy laundering, also gained popularity.
Sunday Best: Fashionable Clothing for Women in the West
Church attendance was a central part of frontier life, and Sunday services provided an opportunity for women to showcase their finest attire. Sunday best often mirrored Eastern fashions, featuring full skirts over petticoats and corsets, puffed sleeves in styles like bell, leg-o-mutton, or pagoda, and the latest skirt trends, including crinolines, hoops, and bustles. Younger women favored light colors, while older women opted for darker hues. These ensembles were completed with fashionable hats, kid gloves, and low-heeled boots.
Socializing in Style: Dresses for Special Occasions
Dances, holidays, and community gatherings called for special occasion dresses. Women often relied on Godey’s Ladies Book for inspiration, copying patterns and styles to create fashionable clothing. The availability of materials varied, and women often embellished their best dresses with handcrafted details like crocheted collars and shawls.
Accessorizing: The Finishing Touches
Accessories played a crucial role in fashionable clothing for women on the frontier. Items like aprons, boots, brooches, lockets, earrings, hair adornments, hats, collars, cuffs, gloves, undersleeves, parasols, fans, handbags, and shawls added personal style and flair to their outfits.
A Lasting Legacy of Fashionable Clothing for Women
The pioneer women of the American West created a unique style that blended practicality with the prevailing fashion trends of the Victorian era. Their resourceful adaptations and enduring sense of style continue to inspire and influence fashion today.
