• Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar

New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Adirondacks & NNY
  • Capital-Saratoga
  • Mohawk Valley
  • Hudson Valley & Catskills
  • NYC & Long Island
  • Western NY
  • History
  • Nature & Environment
  • Arts & Culture
  • Outdoor Recreation
  • Food & Farms
  • Subscribe
  • Support
  • Submit
  • About
  • New Books
  • Events
  • Podcasts

18th Century Fashion Show at Knox’s Headquarters

August 10, 2016 by Editorial Staff Leave a Comment

Tiffanie Downs, from Pine Bush, portraying an upper class lady in her silk gown (provided).On Saturday, August 13th from 5 to 7 pm, Knox’s Headquarters presents a fashion show of 18th century civilian and military clothing.

Visitors will see elegant ladies gowns of silk, gentlemen officer wear and the patched and worn garments of the lesser sort. Learn who would have worn the clothing, why it is constructed in that manner, and what function it served. Accompanying the clothing display will be a power point demonstration and narrator describing the portraits and research behind the gowns. Staff members of the New Windsor Cantonment and Knox’s Headquarters State Historic Sites have painstakingly researched and constructed by hand reproductions of period clothing.

A significant number of Revolutionary War era ladies gowns still do exist, escaping the fate of some that were taken apart to provide fabric to re-upholster 18th century furniture or been destroyed while being worn as a costume during the Victorian era. Fancy embroidered waistcoats and fine tailored jackets worn by gentlemen also survive in fairly significant amounts, but what of the clothing worn by the common people. In all but very rare cases, the garments were worn until they fell apart and then the remaining fabric was used to make other things or for patching. In the early 19th century, linen rags were gathered by pickers who sold the bundles to paper makers.

The best information on what was worn by everyday people comes from so-called runaway ads. Posted by slave owners, those still due services from indentured servants and military officials looking for deserters, these detailed descriptions of the clothing worn by fleeing individuals was intended to aid in their apprehension, but they have also proved invaluable to students of this time period. Besides admiring the beautifully wrought garments learn what research and special skills were necessary to replicate them.

Light refreshments will be served and the program is free. Contact New Windsor Cantonment staff at (845) 561-1765 for more information. Knox’s Headquarters State Historic Site is part of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. The Palisades Interstate Park Commission administers 29 park, parkways and historic sites for the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in New York as well as the Palisades Interstate Park and parkway in New Jersey. For more information about New York State parks and historic sites, click here.

Photo: Tiffanie Downs, from Pine Bush, portraying an upper class lady in her silk gown (provided).

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Filed Under: History Tagged With: Fiber Arts - Textiles, Knox's Headquarters, Material Culture, Public History

About Editorial Staff

Stories written under the Editorial Staff byline are drawn from press releases and other notices. Submit your news to New York Almanack here.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Support Our 2022 Fundraising

Subscribe to New York Almanack

Subscribe! Follow the New York Almanack each day via E-mail, RSS, Twitter or Facebook updates.

Recent Comments

  • Bob Meyer on Poetry: Cabin Pantry Discovery
  • Raphael Riljk on The Sinking of the S.S. Normandie at NYC’s Pier 88
  • Christian on Orange County Man Ticketed After Killing Rattlesnake
  • ABSS314 on Orange County Man Ticketed After Killing Rattlesnake
  • Evan Barnett on Catskills Resort History: The Beginning of the End
  • Evan Barnett on Catskills Resort History: The Beginning of the End
  • Eva Barnett on Catskills Resort History: The Beginning of the End
  • ARNOLD on Catskills Resort History: The Beginning of the End
  • Kim Campbell on Civil War Albany Rises To Action
  • Dave Waite on Alfred Billings Street: Albany’s 19th Century State Poet

Recent New York Books

The Jewish World of Alexander Hamilton
vintage babes of broadway book
Mission Begin With Blood
Special Delivery book
killing time in the catskills
the soft city book
occupied america
stewards of the water
off the northway

Secondary Sidebar

preservation league
Protect the Adirondacks Hiking Guide