Capt. Sterling

If I didn't know some of you guys better, I would seriously be worried... Hector

Great thanks! Hector

One must remember as well that during the 18th century NOT everyone bothered to wear drawers.... most just used the tails of the very long shirts to tuck about themselves under their breeches. Hector

Would like to make a good reproduction Ship's Log for a prop and would like to make it as exact as possible. Can anyone list online and book references where one can see good examples of actual Logs circa 1675-1710? Thanks for any assistance, Hector

How does one post prints on this site? I have several Arnoult (sp) fashion plates that show baldricks being used, worn over the coats, these are circa 1680s. These may be of interest to some of you who do pre-1700. I also have a black n white drawing in french, showing another baldrick worn over the coat, and I would love to know the translation if any one is savy in that language. Hector

Do you mean a cat? In which case try this link... http://www.gggodwin.com/cat.htm

Hey would the hand wrought brass buttons at Wooden Hamlet do? Hector

I don't know if historical pewter was all nice and shiny but I have worked with pewter that contains lead and if polished will shine but takes elbow grease! Hector

Fashion Plates of the times, like some of the prints Foxe shared, show both ways as well... so what ever is the most comfortable for you. Hector

Kass~ What a wonderful idea! And you are so kind to offer an on-line class for nothing! I was wondering if you would mind questions from those that would be taking advantage of your hard work here? More like an interactive class... How many of you out there, indulging yourself here, would like to have the opportunity to ask if you get stuck on something? And could people post their finished shirts for your constructive critiquing? OI! where is the spell check on this site??? How many are taking this great class? Anyone interested in taking the shirt class as well? Or, would, perhaps this be something best slated for a later date? Pickin yer brains, Hector

I find the challenge to be where does one get a close second in a lower price until you can raise the amount to get the proper ones? Greg, when you get a chance could you go to Godwin's site and take a look at his Hessian shoes... and give your thoughts as to a temporary fix. Hector

Oh don't get me wrong... If I had the money available I would easily spend it on the correct pair of shoes. I don't find being period correct insane at all regarding any item one wears or carries. Hector

If you want a pirate coat like Bonny and Read's, you won't want it "tight in certain spots", me darlin'. They were aiming to look like men! I quite agree with Kass. If you want that Read look and still need to do the sexy thing , then I would go with the shirt neck left open not a tight coat especially with the common sailor type coat. If you were to go with the more formal coat, I still would go with the proper period fit. The lines are so graceful it would be a pity to pull it in where it would not normally be done so. Just a thought. I worked on a George Washington mini series years ago. The costume director wanted to place Martha W. in a Fredrick's of Hollywood contemporary corset with attached garters etc, for a scene at Valley Forge....of all things... . I dressed up one of the aides in the proper chemise, corset and petticoat and threw a shawl over her and sent her out to model in front of the crew. The period correct garments won out over the overtly sexy ones. The guys found they had a lot more appeal. Again, just a thought. Hector

Yes, I totally agree they may not be at all. Unfortunately the site did not have that print posted but they obviously have one. Maybe you could get them to send you a copy. I was just intrigued by the fact that they mentioned it could be a fore runner... I hope maybe it helps direct your search. Hector

This is another site with rather realistic looking wigs... but again high in price.... http://www.atelier-bassi.ch/English/Welcom...ome/Welcome.htm you can also google in Allonge or Full bottomed wigs... I've already spoken to the wig maker at Williamsburg regarding later style wigs, will speak to them again for the earlier.... but they tie their wigs completely by hand... should be well in the thousands.... but I'll let you know the results any way. Hector

yeah at roughly $5-600 dollars a pair, I'll need all the luck I can get....

http://members.aol.com/ConConsul/ppbs.html Hey Foxe if you go to the above link and scroll down you will see a fellow in a red blanket coat/capote(french for hood). I realize its a later time frame but it does come close in idea to your print. If the Canadians had them as far back as 1666-1675, perhaps the french had something similar like in your print. I know the British Army used them during the Rev. War when they were stationed in America and Canada. I suppose if you really wanted you could get in touch with some historians in Canada or the Peguot(sp) History Museum and Research center... they actually have a class that teaches how to make them. Later, Hector

"It was among this latter class that a distinctively Canadian costume gradually developed. Made by themselves; from materials grown on their own farms, and woven by their own firesides, the gray )homespun of the habitant attained the importance of a national costume, and in the 1837 period became the symbol of French-Canadian opposition to British bureaucracy and economic domination. It was admirably suited to the conditions of habitant life: a double-breasted coat of blanket cloth reaching to the knees, with a hood which could be drawn over the head in cold or stormy weather, thick cloth breeches tucked into high boots with moccasin-shaped feet, made pliable by soaking in oil, - the famous bottes-sauvages, or "beef boots", - a tuque or woollen cap of bright colour, and a sash made of stout linen threads of yellow, red, blue and white closely woven in an acute zigzag or arrow pattern, wrapped in wide folds around the waist and hanging down at one side where the ends terminated in a long fringe. This ceinture flèchée, or "assumption sash", as it was sometimes called from the town of L'Assomption, which was a centre of its manufacture, was perhaps the most characteristic and original article of Canadian costume. It was woven in the home by the young women, and was worn by the habitant, the voyageur, and the student of the seminary. Like all the products of folk-culture, this costume was the growth of time; but as early as 1666 there is mention of the rough blue coats and tuques of the militia in Courcelles's expedition against the Iroquois, and an engraving in La Potherie (1722) shows a figure of a Canadian on snow-shoes, wearing a long-skirted coat which may well be the forerunner of the later capote. " From the History of Quebec site.... Hector

Thanks for the silk link. This is the second coat to date and I had wanted to get it as close as possible, but it looks like I will have to go with a regular dupioni for the lining for now. Need to have it and all its silver work done by the beginning of Feb. I will have to see if they are willing to give out a list of the retailers they sell to. In the meantime, I've sent for some samples of Ottoman silk, it too is ribbed. So it may come a close second... not that I want seconds... I also appreciate the actual name... so far, I've only come across the description and not the proper title. Does anyone know if this type of silk is in the American textile book??? mine is still in a packing box some where!!! Thanks again. Hector and yes Kass... captain to play, tailor to afford to play.

I take it you are referring to the very last pair pictured and not any of those above, such as the earlier court shoes? Just to clarify. I need the earlier shoes.

Anyone have a link for 100% finely ribbed silk? Hector

Those look to be "capotes", made of Whitney blankets and were worn during the winters during the F&I Wars, the Revolution, and even earlier. Panther Primitives sells them, and unless I am terribly mistaken, so does Crazy Crow Trading Post. I think you may have something there. They do resemble the capote very much. What say you Kass? The Rev. War version was a very easy garment to assemble. Cut from a large blanket, there were only simple shoulder seams. The hood was just a large rectangle folded in half, seamed down one end and attached at the neck and one piece sleeves. There was no real fit to the item, just thrown over your suit and belted or tied...Shame there is no profile. Hector The Historical Tailor