Lectures and Presentations
Layer
by Layer
How Women Dressed in the 1860s
presented
November 2, 2003 at the annual Victorian Tea
by the Stamford Historical Society and Jane
Sabatelli
Surrounded
by Victorian furnishings and period clothing in her traveling boudoir,
Civil War re-enactor Jane Sabatelli greeted members of the audience and
quickly transported them back in time to the 1860s.
Demurely
dressed in an authentic white cotton dressing gown and wearing a lace day
cap, she proceeded to demonstrate how a woman of means would have dressed
for an afternoon social event, such as the tea party which followed her
presentation.
Whether
disappearing behind a folding screen or peering into her floor length mirror
to adjust a button or bow, Jane kept up a steady stream of conversation, filled
with educational and entertaining information. Clothing, customs and etiquette
were discussed as she continued to put on layer upon layer of undergarments
and a blouse—then called a ‘waist.’ Finally, an elaborate
two-piece dress (a reproduction which she had made herself) went over the hooped
skirt and petticoat. A matching bonnet, crocheted purse, mitts and gloves,
completed her outfit. Now properly dressed in a traveling mantle and carrying
a parasol, Mrs. Sabatelli was ready to venture forth to the tea.
The tea table, in true Victorian
fashion, was groaning with a delectable assortment of tea sandwiches,
scones, shortbread, gingerbread, molasses cookies, lemon bars, madeleines,
spice and lemon tea cakes, and a buttermilk pound cake. Tea was served
in fine china cups and saucers loaned for the occasion by Historical
Society members. Jane floated effortlessly around the tea table in
her
seemingly buoyant hoop skirt—just as ladies did in the 1860s.
Margaret Bowen, November 2003
Photo
presentation
Jane Sabatelli
Civil War Exhibit 2003
Lectures and Presentations
Photos © Nancy Louth, Stamford Historical Society (1)
