I enjoy sifting through museum collections online. It feels a bit like a treasure hunt and is way healthier than doom scrolling on social media. I’m grateful to the institutions who have made so much of their holdings available to members of the public like us. And, I want to share the gems and show them in context of other related items. In this case, I hope if you are trying to get an idea of textile trends in mid-19th century America, you will find this resource useful.
The textiles of the mid-19th century are varied and complex. They displayed the evolving technology of textile production at the time. Because of this, it can be difficult make a reconstructed garment today which reflects the styles available to American women 150 to 190 years ago. Everything from humble homespun, plain-woven woolens to opulent many-colored printed cottons and luminous silks have survived for us to study. View a sampling (available in the public domain) on my reference page.
Click below:Explore more 19th Century Clothing through Photography
Though 19th century photographs could not document the vibrant colors of people’s clothing, we can learn a lot from the display of patterns, textures, and styles of construction as they were worn by real individuals. Browse my Pinterest board for interesting images of 19th century people.
What do their clothes say about them? What do your clothes say about you?
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