Late 19Th Century Costume

Please don't pay for some expensive costume and wig she'll use only once! My daughter had to dress up as James Monroe (earlier period but still, long trousers and not knee breeches, hooray). We went to a good thrift store and I bought her a boy's plain black suit; a boy's lighter-colored vest that buttoned up in front; a plain white long-sleeved boy's shirt; and a woman's white scarf. Turn the collar of the shirt up so it comes up to her chin; wrap the scarf around like a man's neckerchief of the time (look at pictures online from the period). Tuck the scarf in the top of the vest. Black shoes (her own will do or buy boy's plain black shoes) or make false "boot tops" out of black posterboard that go over the shoes and appear from the ankle to the knee like a boot. Boots are NOT necessary -- city men wore shoes as well. And why a wig? Does she have long hair? If she does, put it up close to her head and get a cheap hat instead. If she has short hair, gel it close to her head -- men wore "macassar" hair oil back then to slick their hair down! And men were no longer wearing wigs by the 1850s and onward; wigs were really from the Colonial and early Federal eras so unless the wig is just to make her appear male -- there's no need.

The key things are having a vest or waistcoat and jacket, dark colors, and getting something around the collar that's not just a modern type of tie. Coat, vest and trousers are basic to almost the entire 19th and 20th centuries so that's easy!

Anything like that appears pretty much "old fashioned" and will look great on her. Let her do the shopping with you and let her research "men's 19th century clothing" online! Save dough and let her be creative rather than buying a costume.

Do schools just like to torture parents? :p

I am trying to remember my grandpa's wedding picture. It is at my dad's but I have looked at it enough. As I remember it looks like any other suit but the shirt and tie are different. I wish I could remember more.

Or are you looking for casual? That I remember, pleated docker type pants, suspenders and what looked like a short sleeved dress shirt. I suppose casual to my grandpa was the the suit without the jacket and tie. :)

I don't know if you need a wig. Perhaps a low pony with her hair slicked back.

God I hope I am not mixing up pictures here.

I'm thinking of the bar-keep look from the late 1800's...puffy white shirt, arm garters, striped trousers, bowler hat.........you'd be amazed what you can find in thrift stores!

There is a costume store on Inwood Road between Alpha and Spring Valley. It's a red brick building on a side street, but you can see their sign from Inwood.

From looking at my daughters Gr-gr-great-grandfather's autobiography, you will need a white shirt, bow tie, the suit vest, and jacket. 1875

And he had Colonel Sanders hair, mustache, and beard.

So unfortunate! The late 19th century was a HUGELY diverse period/turning point in women's fashion (from bustles to bicycling suits to turkish trousers, to jodhpurs, and then... real trousers).

Men's fashion is largely the same, however, during the past few centuries. Since stockings and short pants made way into trousers. The change happened during the industrial revolution when cotton replaced wool... but that's never no mind.

3 piece suit (french cuffs for the shirt, cufflinks were a necessity), cravat, hat (must! for out of doors, but always removed inside), brightly polished pointy toed shoes or boots (square toed shoes and boots were reserved for lower classes most of the time), short hair, neatly trimmed beard or mustache was predominant... clean shaven was acceptable... voluminous bears were rather frowned upon), pocket watch, handkerchief, cigars or pipe.

((When you say 'gentleman' I'm taking that literally... and that you don't just mean "a man", but a member of either the nobility or upper class. Of course, if you just need male fashion from 1850-1914... you're just talking about a linen shirt, and trousers with suspenders))

I would suggest a period costume store. They rent to theatre companies, for fancy dress parties, school plays, halloween. It won't be inexpensive, but it would be a lot less expensive than purchasing.