Fashion: A War For Women
While the men are off fighting in wars, the women back at home face wars of their own. Afterall, no one wants to be the loser when it comes to fashion. Women are the ones who keep fashion moving forward and strive for excellence. The women of the Confederacy and the Union sure know how to make a fashion statement when they want to. Their attire consists mainly of small waisted dresses with large oval shaped skirts. The intricate fringing and ruffles makes each dress unique, makes the owner proud to be wearing it, and makes others wish it was theirs. The extra fabric which extended further out in the back enhances all of the women's features. All of these beautiful garments would not be able to be made without cotton. The south proves to have a current advantage because they are the main cotton producers in America. They may be able to produce higher standards of clothing than the clothing in the North. However, if the South needs to donate all their cotton to making the men's uniforms, then things would balance out once again. The Women in America always know how to dress. Whether they are going to a formal party, or just into town, they never even have one hair out of place. Their outfits consists of about five layers of clothing underneath their dresses which add to the wonderful overall effect. When cleaning, the women wear loose fitting work dresses and much nicer attire when attending a formal event. They also have a range of tops to wear, mainly consisting of blouses and bodices. The blouses are more loose fitting where as the bodices are more of a snug fit to the women. Different skirts can be warn for different occasions and can either dress up or dress down any outfit. Not to forget, any outfit is never complete without a fine pair of gloves. One large factor that is currently influencing the fashion in America is the mourning of lost loved ones. With all the men dying in the war, many women are forced to wear mourning garments. These garments consists of all black fabric. Black petticoats, shoes, jewelry, cuffs, collars, etc. However, even these garments are fashion forward. If the America women know one thing, it is how to dress. By: Allyson Drummey |
Soldiers: Models on the Battlefield
One must always be dressed properly. Whether it is a time or war or peace, fashion is key. The Confederate men may have not had many materials to work with, but they made it work. The various positions in their forces have different designs and uniforms. However, they all tied in together and show the unity and passion of the Confederates. They are mostly made from wool dyed gray, because gray dye can be made rather inexpensively. The Confederates are able to make cheap look expensive. Although Gray may not be the best color for camouflage on the battlefield, it looks fashion forward. The light colored wool trousers are worn by both sides and complement the coats. Lastly, the Confederates buttons and hats can help one determine their rank and add the perfect amount of detail to the uniforms. Similar to the Confederates, the Unions uniforms were very suiting to them. The color mainly worn by the Union is blue. They also wear well made, sky blue trousers and multiple coats for protection, warmth, and style. Some considered the coats to be old fashioned. However, the soldiers make them seem timeless. The Union army consists of many volunteers who have even brought clothes from home. Despite this factor, they still manage to look put together and ready to fight. The money for funding of the Confederate and Union uniforms may be very dismal, but one would never know. Each side looks put together and ready to fight in style. The Confederates had a more comfortable look of clothings, while the Union had a more precise and formal look about their clothes. If this was a war on fashion, it would be a close call. By: Allyson Drummey |
Today's Fashion:
For a Better Tomorrow
Whether or not one agrees with The Civil War in America, it is impossible to deny the fashion forward evolution taking place there.