Impression Guidelines for the Exhibition of the Frederick County Agricultural Society

Women's Dress:

For a lady a tidy appearance was popular during the period appropriate to your station.

 

Dresses: must be of a natural fiber: silk, cotton, linen or wool, and a weave that existed in the period. All dresses will be made using period techniques including machine, hand sewing, or a combination. Closures that are acceptable are hooks and eyes or buttons.

Buttons must be documented to the period and appropriate to the use on the garment and

your station. A collar and cuffs are preferred with your look as this was a technique in the

mid nineteenth century for both practicality and a tidy appearance.

 

For adult women: skirts will be full (cartridge pleated or regularly pleated) and reach no

more than 4" off the ground. The waistline should be at the natural waist of the wearer.

Shoulder seams should be dropped slightly off the natural shoulder.

 

Cotton Dresses:  Must be made of a suitable style per current research ( preferred gathered or pleated bodice, Bishop or coat sleeves, any trim must be self-trim). They must be made of a reproduction print or of a pattern that can be documented to the period.

 

Sheer cotton, wool and silk dresses: may be solid, plaid, or have a print that can be

documented to the period Sleeves for wool or silk may be pagoda, coat, or bishop sleeves.

Bodices on wool or silk may be darted. Any trim choices must be documented to the period

in both style, pattern, and material.

 

White waists (blouse): must be of fine cotton or silk and made in a style similar to cotton

dress bodice, with a finished bottom edge and fitted at the waist. Skirts that are worn with

either a white waist must be made of silk or wool that is solid, plaid, or of a print that is

documented to the period and have a waistband.

 

Please refrain from wearing - Cotton dresses that are of a solid color, a modern quilting print, or fashioned in the style meant for wool or silk. NO military accessories or clothing, White modern blouses (tucked in, collar as part of the shirt), Gathered drawstring skirts, White modern cotton blouses worn with a cotton skirt are NOT appropriate for this event.  NO Ball gowns, evening gowns, open neckline gowns or Dresses made of polyester, or synthetic fibers.

 

Hoops: These were coming into fashion during this time period and were round. Circumference would range from roughly 90”-110”. Layered petticoats are also acceptable.

 

Underpinnings:  A well fitted corset on all ladies is expected unless medically prohibitive.

White cotton chemise, drawers and petticoats worn with cotton, wool or silk stockings that

come above the knee. White cotton petticoats should be worn over the hoop to soften and

hide the bone lines from the hoop. Wool and quilted petticoats may be worn as needed for

warmth.

Not Allowed: Sweatpants, bicycle shorts yoga pants, t-shirts, sports bras and modern

socks used in place of period underpinnings

 

Hair: Hair must be up and contained in a period manner with a center part. No modern heavy woven snoods or loose uncontrolled hair.

Headwear: Bonnets, hats and other women’s headwear should be made of proper

materials and construction, such as fine straw or silk. Corded and slat bonnets are also

acceptable.

Not Allowed – Any modern hats, headbands, scrunches, heavy woven snoods or any

other things not period correct.

 

Gloves: Gloves made of proper construction and material (silk, thin leather). Must be of

proper colors of the era. Gloves at this time were wrist length and very tight fitting.

Not Allowed – Modern gloves of any kind.

 

Shoes: Shoes should be of period construction and materials with squared toes. They may

include low walkers, boots, mules or rain shoes

Not allowed - Modern shoes or boots are not allowed. This would include period like

boots with zippers.

 

Accessories: There are many personal accessories for the time. They may include

parasols, jewelry, pocket watches, neck bows, travel cases, and/or walking sticks. Please

make sure accessories coordinate with your station and portrayal.

Not allowed - Battenberg parasols and ponytail cameos and modern jewelry and

modern eyewear

 

WARM LAYERS and OUTERWEAR: Outer garments should also be made of natural fibers

(wool and silk predominantly) using only trim choices appropriate for the garment.

Appropriate outer garments include paletots, mantles sontog (made of wool), shawls with

patterns appropriate to the period. Umbrellas with wooden handles and black covering

Not Allowed - Modern flannel or sweatshirt material lounge pants (they are seen every

time you bend forward), modern tee-shirts layered as an underpinning (the collar

always peeks out). Modern raincoats. Acrylic yarn items anything made of modern

fabric.

 

Men’s Dress:

Refrain from wild clown colors. Though accent colors could be brighter, it was starting to

become more the fashion for tamer colors to be used. Men's clothing in the period shined

in waistcoats, gloves, cravats and suspenders. Jackets and trousers were predominantly

black, slate gray or dark brown if wool.

 

Warmer weather trousers and jackets were usually bleached, cream and a medium brown.

Unless you are doing a lower middle class or lower class impression, you’ll want to follow

this historical reference point.

Coats: Civilian Frocks, Paletots, and Sack Coats using period correct materials and

patterns. It will be September, so a good mix of wool and linen suits are favorable.

Not Allowed – Federal or Confederate issued uniforms as a civilian or Modern dress

coats. Military impressions are invitation only at this event.

 

If your impression is of a lower class station:

Jean Cloth is acceptable. This also includes overshirts and work shirts.

 

Trousers: Civilian pattern using period correct construction and materials (fine wool, linen, corduroy and jean)

Not allowed - Federal Issue Trousers or any type of military trousers, Civil War or

otherwise. Modern dress pants or pants of outlandish patterns and colors

 

Waistcoats: Civilian pattern using period correct materials (silk, wool, cotton, linen in a pattern that can be dated to the period) Can be solid, check or other period pattern.

Not Allowed – Military cut or the use of Military Brass Buttons.  No Modern vests.

 

Shirts: Proper Civilian construction and materials of the time made of linen, cotton, etc.

Preference would be white linen or cotton

Not Allowed - US or CS style “Issue” shirts or Modern button down shirts of any kind.

 

Cravats: Cravats of silk preferred, but fine linen and cotton can also be used.

Footwear: Civilian Style Shoes/Boots

Reasonable Alternative - Confederate/Federal Issue Shoes if you absolutely cannot do

otherwise.

Not Allowed - Modern footwear of any kind unless needed for medical reasons. Then

the shoes must be a reasonable facsimile of period correct. (Modern black dress

shoes with black rubber soles.)

 

Headgear: Civilian hats in good condition from a reputable dealer made of fur, wool or

straw. It is September so a mix of straw hats among the men would be nice.

Not Allowed - Military headwear of any kind including kepis, forage caps, etc. Modern

cowboy hats, felt hats or other modern headwear.

 

Gloves: Gloves for men are greatly underrepresented in living history, especially among the

middle to upper class. Gloves made of proper construction and material (silk, thin leather).

Must be of proper colors of the era. Gloves at this time were wrist length and very tight

fitting.

Not Allowed – Modern gloves of any kind and any type of military gloves.

Accessories: Canes, pocket watches, travel cases, etc.

Men’s Research: We highly recommend all men needing suggestions about proper

construction and material for this era check out

https://www.tmtmuseum.com/collection Tailor Merchant Museum is a great team of

Ben Jenkins, Aaron Klass, Amber Besonen, and Eric Smallwood.

 

There will not be any outrageous hats, dresses, embellishments of any kind.

General prohibition: We WILL NOT tolerate modern things such as, but not limited to

modern glasses, modern tobacco products/lighters, cell phones, modern haircuts

(mohawks, men with extremely long hair, unnatural hair dye, etc.), colored nail polish,

and public drunkenness. Please make every effort to hide modern tattoos and remove

piercings beyond the earlobes. No excessive modern discussions. It's1858 let’s leave modern politics/events at home! Talk about politics of 1850, farming, and exhibitions at the fair.

 

Cell Phones: Cell phones have become a real issue at even the most authentic events.

If you must keep your cell phone on you for emergency reasons, please keep it on

silent and do not get out unless you are able to duck into the restroom or an area

segregated from the event.

 

Impression Prohibition: This event will not have 19th Century famous people's

impressions.  If you do this kind of impression you are still welcome! You must adjust

your impression to move away from your usual famous person.

  

This event is meant to be a place for civilians to learn and grow in their impression. If you have questions or would like some guidance please reach out to Michele Shuman or Amy Debord, for women and Bobby Small, Chad Johnson or William Debord for men.