Trip to Lowell - a fashion (and textile) history

Because of vacation, I went out to the American Textile History Museum to get some ideas and do some research. It was so cool! The museum actually talked about the different types of materials used in clothing and how they have progressed over time. It started with flax and linen, moved through cotton and the labor required (think mills and such), then ended in modern day with polyester and Eco-fabrics (such as polar fleece made of recycled bottles). The museum was well laid out and very informative - plus it had dresses from all the major eras! Here are my findings below:

Late 1700's Man's Outfit (coat, shirt and breeches), Woman's Dress (w/fichu and quilted petticoat) and Stays

White Regency Dress (I think the sign said 1809)

1830's Striped Pink Dress (with Gigot Sleeves). This was near the mill workers section about labor laws. It looks like a typical dress young girls (teens-20's) would have worn while working in the mills.

A typical closet of of girls in the 1830's. I counted about 5 or 6 dresses.

Magenta Dress with train from 1869. The detail and trimming on this was so cool and much like the dresses shown in fashion plates of the time.

Drawers and Chemise from mid-late 1800's. These are similar to those I am making during the next couple weeks. I didn't really look, but I think the drawers are split, allowing easy access to toilet facilities while wearing lots of skirts and bustles.

1900's Bathing Costume. Made of wool. It was very impractical, but it was the only thing women could wear while "seaside bathing." It was pretty funny to compare the speedo next to it!

I believe this was from 1909. White dress with lots of lacework and very pigeon breasted!

Sadly, school starts up again tomorrow. But I'll be very excited to work on my corset because the pattern and DVD finally came!! I plan to go get some fabric tomorrow so I can start work ASAP! (yes, I know it's upside down. Blogger put it that way and I don't know how to fix it!)