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Gowns
Women would sew their own gowns so they could wear them. Women used to wear gowns that had sloping shoulders, narrow waist and full hips. The small waist had a wide belt attached to it. Later on in the years they changed the dresses, they were unbelted but cut close to the body. Every women was required to wear a gown everyday and every night no matter what. All dresses were a variety of colours/designs. Dresses were designed to be bulky above and below the waist to make the waist look small. -
Evening Gowns
Women wore different gowns in the evening then during the day. These dresses were called evening gowns. Evening gowns had very wide necklines and puffed, short sleeves that reached to the elbow from a dropped shoulder, and were worn with gloves that were mid-length. They would emphasize the width at the womens shoulders by gathering or pleating panels of fabric. -
Hairstyles
Women used to all wear their hair the same way. They used to part their hair in the centre and either had the sides and crown of their head in really tight curls or loops or knots. Also they used to wear braids in their hair sometimes but they would put the braids into a bun. In the evening they would wear hair accessories that included combs, ribbons, flowers and jewels. -
Headgear (women)
Married women wore caps with frills, lace, and ribbons. They would wear these caps indoors for daywear and in the garden with a parasol. Bonnets that were decorated with flowers on the inside brim or a veil that was able to drape over their face. Married women wore their caps under their bonnets. However in the evening, they wore feathers, pearls, lace, or ribbons in their hair. -
Men's Fashion
Men would wear full length trousers however, breeches were required to be worn for formal functions and for horse back riding and other country pursuits. Breeches were worn with tall, fitted boots. Men wore cotton or linen shirts along with their pants. The shirts had lower standing collars that they occasionally turned down. Men would wear wide cravats or neck ties with their shirts. There was many different ways of tying these cravats and ties. -
Children's Fashion
Boys and girls both wore skirts from when they were born until they were 5 or 6. Boys: Young boys wore belted tunics over pantanettes or three piece suits with lapel peaks and rounded collars. Girls: Young girls would wear knee length skirts with crinoline petticoat. Some of them wore a dress with pantanettes -
Outerwear
Women: When women wore very wide skirts, they would wear cape-like jackets. Other outer garmets they would wear were Indian shawls and hooded cloaks. Women's horseback riding clothing had fitted jackets with tight sleeves. They were worn over collared shirts and on top of long skirts. Women also wore mannish top hats. Men: On formal occasions, men wore morning coats. The sack coat was wore for leisure activities. It was a loosely fitted coat that reached the mid-thigh. -
Headgear (men)
Many men wore top hats when they went places. Another hat called the bowler hat started to gain popularity as an informal hat. The bowler hat is made out of black felt for most of the year. In the summer, the hat was made out of brown felt instead. Later on in 1865 the hatmaker created the boss of the plains hat. Many cowboys and settlers were interested in this hat. It had a wide brim and a round ribbon-lined crown.
