Colonial Costumes

Colonial Costumes- Beyond The Pilgrim

Halloween and Thanksgiving are just around the corner, and that means that Colonial costumes are in high demand. Like most other historical costumes, there are as many reasons for wanting them as there are styles, quality, and historical accuracy to choose from.

Are you a Colonial reenactor? Then your costume needs differ greatly from the elementary school teacher who’s dressing up to teach her children about the first Thanksgiving. You’ll need historically accurate Colonial costume patterns or period correct Colonial garb. This is slightly more difficult to come by, and more expensive and more challenging to make than a Pilgrim Halloween costume. The effort is well worth it, though, as is the expense. There is a great feeling of accomplishment the first time you wear your historical Colonial costume in public, though that feeling may fade just a bit when the next great period costume catches your eye.

Womens Colonial costumes can be simple affairs, or as complicated as you like. Colonial dresses ran the gamut from the straight lines of a Puritan costume dress, to the fancy dresses as seen in the movie Sleepy Hollow.

Mens Colonial costumes are equally varied. Men’s breeches and a longhunter shirt are fairly simple to make, and may be the most affordable option if you’re just starting out in Colonial reenactment costumes, as well as the most versatile. With a few accessories, you can go from portraying a Colonial man, a Colonial hunter, Davy Crockett, and even turn it into a Colonial soldier uniform. If you sew well, or know someone who does, the longhunter shirt can be adapted into the standard ruffled shirt. Of course, a Benjamin Franklin costume, or a George Washington costume will be much more difficult and probably more expensive whether you choose to make it or buy it.

Children’s Colonial costumes are even easier to come by, cheaper, and are easier to make. Children’s Colonial costume patterns are everywhere, it seems, due to the high number of school plays, Halloween celebrations, and class parties that are centered around American history.

For most people, the Colonial costumes found on normal costume sites, or that can be made using Simplicity patterns and the like will be good enough. However, Colonial reenactors have stricter guidelines for their costumes. To accurately portray someone from this time period, you will need historically accurate Colonial shoes, or shoes which at least look period.

Handmade Colonial shoes are actually much easier to find than mass produced reproductions, yet they are still not a very common item. After all, if you have $100 to spend on a new dress, or on new shoes, which would you choose? As such, those who do produce such a rare commodity are in high demand, and so can take weeks or months to fill an order. An easier suggestion is to check online auctions if you find that you can’t wait long enough to receive your order.

With a little research and creativity, you’ll be able to put together the best Colonial costumes in your area.

Colonial Costumes