Re-enactment Clothing Guide

Re-enactment Clothing Guide

Written by Terry Todish

            In the almost 40 years of the Fort Michilimackinac Pageant there have been many changes. Although the basic story has remained the same, changes in the script and action have reflected changing attitudes toward the cultures portrayed. Changes have also been made to make the Pageant more historically authentic. Although, as the title suggests, this annual event is a theatrical performance and not a reenactment or strict recreation of history, the participants have a sincere desire to remain faithful to the spirit of history, and honor those whose stories make up the events of the Pageant.

Some of the most noteworthy changes in the last few years have involved improvements in the costuming of the Pageant participants. Years ago, a general “frontier” look was sufficient. Mountain man buckskins and “little house on the prairie” type dresses and bonnets were common. The Native Americans generally dressed in flannel costumes made to look like Hollywood versions of Plains Indian clothing. Now, more and more participants are trying to accurately portray the clothing of the Great Lakes area in the mid-18^th century. It is in that spirit that the Fort Michilimackinac Pageant Committee presents these guidelines for participant costuming for the Pageant.

General Guidelines

            Michilimackinac in the mid-18^th century was a crossroads of trade and cultures. Documentary and archeological evidence show that native peoples from over much of North America, and Europeans and immigrants from many different countries lived, traded, or passed through here. But most of those who lived here, those primarily represented in the Pageant, belonged to one of several identifiable groups. A certain amount of “mixing and matching” of articles of dress and/or accoutrements certainly occurred, and participants attire and equipment can reflect that, but this should be done carefully, and with an understanding of who is being portrayed and what, if anything, they would have borrowed from another group.

Group-specific Guidelines

                   Native Americans

            Men     Trade shirts of brightly colored calico material, linen or cotton. The prints should be fairly large, not the real small prints common today. Also plain white shirts, possibly painted for decoration. In either case, these would be of the standard 18^th century large, loose type, coming down to at least mid-thigh. Or early style hunting shirts (see note on hunting shirts below.)

                        Breechcloths, preferably of wool (although buckskin was occasionally used).

            Leggings, side seam preferred (most likely the center seam style came in later), of wool or leather.

                        Moccasins.

                        Hair worn in traditional woodlands style.

            Jewelry, accoutrements, tattoos, paint should all be studied carefully and Native mentors consulted. Two items very frequently mentioned in documentary sources – blankets (either worn as matchcoats or carried) and armbands.

          Women   Strap dresses of leather or wool. Chemises or large shirts, worn with skirts of wool or leather. Decorated with silver, needlework, paint, or in other ways, but for design and amount consider carefully who and what you are portraying and consult Native mentors. Jewelry, accoutrements, hair, tattoos, etc. should also be of woodlands designs and customs, and mentors should be consulted.

         Children            Basically “miniature” versions of adult men and women

          French

           Military  The French soldiers are members of the Compagnie Franche de la Marine. Their costumes are provided by the Committee. With the approval of the French military coordinator, personally purchased or constructed authentic French Marine clothing and accoutrements may also be used.

           Civilians

           Men      Preferably they should be dressed as colonial/European men. Frock coats (mid-thigh to knee length, single or double breasted). Weskits (thigh length or longer), straight front preferred. The shorter, “v-front” style are more proper for the late 1760s and 1770s.Knee britches or trousers (see note on trousers following).Stockings. (Leggings or gaiters optional, but uncommon)

Shoes or sabots Tricorn or broad brimmed hat.Or“Coureurs de bois” Long white or trade shirt, worn outside Knee britches, breechcloth or trousers (see note on trousers following) Toque, tricorn, broad brimmed hat, or head scarf. Moccasins, shoes or sabots.

            British

           Military  The British soldiers are members of the 60^th Regiment of Foot, the Royal American Regiment. Their costumes are provided by the Committee. With the approval of the British military coordinator(s), personally purchased or constructed authentic Royal American clothing and accoutrements may also be used. The Royals are sometimes accompanied by other units, such as Gage’s Light Infantry (Captain Balfour’s Regiment), one of the Highland Regiments, or Rogers’ Rangers. Participation in the British military portion of the Pageant is controlled by the British military coordinator(s) and the commander(s) of the units represented.

           Civilian  Preferably they should be dressed as colonial/European men. frock coats (mid-thigh to knee length, single or double breasted). Weskits (thigh length or longer). Knee britches or trousers (see note on trousers following).Stockings. (Leggings or gaiters optional, but uncommon) Shoes, sabots. Tricorn or broad brimmed hat. OrTraders “on the trail” Hunting shirt (see note below) or trade shirt, worn outside Knee britches, breechcloth or trousers (see note on trousers following)Moccasins, or shoes. Tricorn, broad brimmed hat, or head scarf.

           Colonial Ladies Chemise or Shift (White or off-white/eggshell), going from the shoulders to the mid-calf or ankles, and covering the elbows. Skirts or petticoats (Plain colored or patterns Jacket, jumps or bodice (Note: there is some controversy regarding bodices. Some say they are based on misunderstandings of period illustrations. Still, they are generally accepted at reenactments and living history events, and so will be here. Day dress, Polonaise gown, Riding habits also may be worn, but must have proper undergarment(s) (e.g. chemise or shift. Bonnet, hat and/or scarf (heads always covered).

           Children   As with the Native children, they should be dressed as “miniature” versions of adults.

                       There are also certain items that should be used sparingly, if at all: Buckskins        Rarely used for shirts or trousers, although leather was frequently used for britches, and sometimes for leggings (according to documentary evidence, wool was much more common).

           Trousers These were not very common prior to the 1770’s, and the Pageant ends in 1763. They were sometimes worn (John Knox states in his Journals that they were worn under leggings in the Nova Scotia theater during the F&I War, to help keep the mosquitoes from biting), but it was the exception, not the rule.

           Hunting Shirts All evidence indicates that the double + caped, open front, heavily fringed hunting frocks which are so common among reenactors were not in existence until about 1775. Single caped frocks or shirts with little to no fringe, or the large pullover shirts/smocks would be fine.

           Scotch Bonnets These traditional pieces of Highland dress, like the kilt, were outlawed following the ’45. There is some evidence of bonnets being worn in North America by others than Highland soldiers or other troops (such as the Rangers) in the pay of the British crown, but they probably would have been rare.

Top Hats Although there is some evidence to suggest they may have been available in Europe as early as sometime in the 1770’s, they really did not become common until the 1790’s or later. In the absence of more documentation, they should not be worn.