Clothing (very basic!) Names and descriptions (This list is not definitive or complete but rather, describes basic garments.)

MEN

     Trousers/Knee Breeches  Knee breeches (below) were the rage during the 1700s.  These garments tended to fit tightly around the knee and thigh but were extremely baggy in the rear.  Trousers are ok but were typically a sign of the lower class.  Both should be "drop front" style having received their name by the flap which buttons along the waist band.  A French fly style was used during the period around 1750s and featured buttons up the front, where a modern zipper would exist.  Trousers are more common during the early 1800's though knee breeches were still being worn.

      Shirts (right) were long, often coming to the knee.  Early shirts had a very narrow collar but shirts after the 1760's have a collar similar to a modern shirt.  A man's shirt should always be covered with one of the following - A waistcoat (vest), a frock (coat), smock (workman's shirt), or a hunting shirt. Men with an exposed shirt would be rare.  Shirts should have only one or two buttons at the collar with no buttons down the front of the shirt.  Sleeves should be full with gathers at the shoulder and wrist.   Buttons may also be used at the wrist but would have been rare on early garments, using instead cuff links.  Gussets (a square piece of material) are sewn under the arms to allow freedom of movement.
 

      Waistcoats (vest) may be sleeved or unsleeved.  They were worn at all times, summer and winter.  Waistcoats are made of the same material front and back.  Weskits are similar but have a cheaper material sew in the back of the garment.  This garment is designed to be worn with a frock (coat) thus the back would not be seen.  Waistcoats from the 1750s - 60s would be long, often to the knees.  By the 1770s the coats had shortened to waist length.  By the early 1800s, waistcoats (left,) were cut off strait at the bottom and often were short enough to show the colorful shirt underneath.  These later examples would now have a collar - often one that would stand up around the neck.

      Knee socks were worn with breeches to cover the calf of the leg.  Though this sounds strange, socks may be worn over the end of the knee breeches or under them.  It also becomes necessary to wear garters to hold up the socks.  Garters appear as small belts, typically made from leather and with brass or silver buckles.  Less common are woven garters which tie behind the knee.  Garters may be worn above or below the knee.

Shoes were common both in towns and on the frontier.  Typical shoes included a buckle (right) in the front though lace-up shoes were available (military surplus dress shoes are an acceptable cheap replacement).  Period shoes were strait lasted, meaning there was no right or left shoe.  Boots were available but were quite expensive and would be worn only by officers and wealthy civilians.  Shoes and knee stockings were more in style.  Moccasins (left) were commonly found on the frontier. Frontier people could make their own and easily replace worn out footwear.  Center seam style moccasins were worn throughout the eastern Americas. Dyer (brand name) moccasins are not acceptable.

      Hats were worn by all!  No man would leave the house without a hat.  During the revolutionary period tricorns were the rage.  By 1810 tricorns were replaced by top hats.  The rather flat slouch hat was worn throughout both periods. A cocked hat (right) is a slouch hat with the left side pinned up.  (This was done so as to avoid hitting the hat with musket or rifle during military drills when the firearm was carried at shoulder arms.)  
     All of the above types are commonly made of wool felted material while the very best were made from beaver felt. All would be almost exclusively black. A workman's cap also may be worn and may be a good alternative for food booth and other event workers; these hats are made of cloth and are easily sewn. Straw hats were also common during all. represented at the Rendezvous.  Rev war period straw hats should be low crowned with rounded domes while later hats were taller and often flat topped.

      A Neck cloth  was worn by almost everyone.  This simple cloth was a square piece of material, folded into a triangle and then tied around the neck.  Many were made of silk while the common man may have one from cotton or linen.  This may also be worn (pirate style) as a head covering.

     Belts were quite common and worn by men of all classes.  Unlike belts today early belts were used to carry things, not to hold up ones breeches.  Tucked under the belt may be a knife, belt axe, and other necessary items.  Belts were typically leather with a brass double-D buckle. (Avoid belts with large round iron buckles as these would not gain popularity till the 1840s.) Belts should be 2 to 2.5 inches wide.
     Sashes also were worn during this period.  Sashes should be limited to individuals portraying true backwoods longhunters or French inhabitants.  Sashes were between six and nine inches wide and as much as 9 feet long.  The narrow (two to two and one half inch) inkle loomed sashes are not appropriate to the Rendezvous.  Sashes would have been very rare among eastern Americans.

     Buttons while not a piece of clothing, should be considered.  Most ready-to-purchase reenacting clothing comes complete with pewter buttons.  Pewter buttons are perfectly acceptable but would have been a type worn by the very lowest classes such as slaves, indentured servants, the poor, and soldiers.  Horn, bone, and antler buttons also would fall into this category.  Brass buttons were typical of officers in the military and occasionally by the average person.  Cloth covered buttons were the average type of button worn by most civilians.  Buttons on women's clothing was very rare and generally appear only on very fancy riding jackets and such.

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