Costumes

"Aunt Ruby's dress was wine-colored calico, covered all over with a feathery pattern in lighter wine color. It buttoned with gold-colored buttons, and every button had a little castle and a tree carved on it." -- Dance at Grandpa's, Little House in the Big Woods

Men: Gentlemen should provide themselves at least with dark pants, a white button up shirt, and some kind of black or brown shoes or boots. If you don't have boots, try to wear some kind of smooth-soled dress shoes. Athletic shoes will not work because they are both out of period and have too much tread to be able to dance well. Since the historic time period of Colorado's bid for statehood was from 1860 to 1876, you are encouraged to dress up as a Victorian gentleman, frontiersman, soldier, mountain man, westerner, cowboy, or such garb.

Women: All young ladies will need to provide themselves with a Victorian ball gown appropriate to 1860-1876, the historic era of Colorado statehood. Many young ladies enjoy the opportunity to put their sewing skills to use to make exactly what they want. Other alternatives are to alter clothing you already have, or to borrow, rent, or purchase antique or costume items from a thrift store.

Young ladies should research what the dresses looked like from the library, homeschool books, the Internet, etc. You might compare descriptions of dances/dresses from Charles Dickens (Victorian England) with Laura Ingalls Wilder (who was born just after the Civil War and lived near Colorado territory shortly before statehood). Your study of costumes could easily be included in a special unit study on the bid for Colorado statehood a few weeks before the ball.

Saunders Costumes: Saunders at 719-651-2731 will rent you a costume for $40 (a great price which includes multiple clothing items in various colors, and free alterations - see the pictures below!) You can contact them ahead of time to find out what sort of costumes are available, or just wait till the day of the ball when you will want to arrive at 8 am for best choice of gown. Saunders has an amazing selection of costumes; they bring a trailer up from Colorado Springs full of hundreds of Victorian ball gowns for ladies, and period dress wear and Civil War uniforms for gentlemen. (If you were in the Civil War in 1865, your uniform would likely still be your dress wear in 1876!)

The ladies' costume includes a ball gown, hoops, petticoats, gloves, and hair pieces. Alterations are done during the dance practice in the morning so they are ready to pick up at the end of the practice time. You need to return your costume after the ball (like Cinderella!), so make sure to bring street clothes.

You may find other gown rental options, for instance Civil War Gowns, but we recommend Saunders both for price and convenience. However, your rental is a private business arrangement with Saunders and, as such, is separate from the ball. Ball organizers are not responsible for anything relating to Saunders Costume.

Other Resources - find historically accurate costumes and information on historical clothing and how to wear it at the following websites:

  • For seamstresses, Butterick/McCall's/Simplicity have several period patterns available. Please keep in mind that all dresses should be modest and not overly emphasize one's figure. Despite the impression some movies give, modesty is in accordance with historical accuracy.
  • Blockade Runner 40 years of providing "wall to wall American Civil War" items for reenactors and history buffs. Take a look at their entertaining 1800s how-to videos such as the one on how to wear a sash and saber.
  • River Junction A 50-year-old 19th-century dry goods store with an emphasis on the Old West. This company designs and produces most of their own products based on their own research.
  • Stitchin By the River stitchery and doll designs with Bible and Americana themes. They have a blog site and an Etsy pattern shop. Also watch for them at the annual quilt and embroidery show which is in May at the Douglas County Fairgrounds Event Center.
  • Sewing lessons: Contact Mrs. Tallentire at [email protected] . Note that you should not expect to sew your own gown this season if you have never done sewing, any more than you would run a marathon as your first race. Start with something simple such as a drawstring bag, progress to elastic pants, learn more complex clothing with sleeves, zippers, collars, and cuffs, and finally try fine fabrics with lace, boned bodices, V-shaped necklines, and puffed sleeves. But if you learn to sew a ball gown, you will know enough to make your own wedding dress!