Original French Fashion - YouLookFab Forum

.......18th century colonial French, that is!

I grew up anticipating the Feast of the Hunter's Moon every October. This festival, based upon the activity surrounding Fort Quiatenon and the nearby Wea (First Nations) village, is important marker of my childhood. I sang my first paying gig here --- at 13, in a bluegrass band! The history, music, aromas and, oh yes, food, are amazing. The event draws hundreds of reenactors, representing French settlers, Voyageurs (french trappers), First Nations, British, Scottish and early American regiments. Over 60,000 spectators attend in 2 days.

Since joining YLF, the Feast has also caused me to reflect on some of the practicalities of fashion. For example, your coat can double as your blanket (ponchos, anyone?), and you can adapt to your changing body over decades with laces and ties in place of structured waistbands with buttons and zippers). I was reminded of the sort of stewardship that uses all of the animal --- although the raccoon hats (not just the tail, ala Daniel Boone, but the whole head) were a bit alarming. And the day isn't complete with a glimpse of the iconic "loincloth man." He's been a regular since the 70s.

What kind of modern dressing inspiration would you take from these pics? (I've tried to protect privacy, so there are lots of rear shots)

1. A "sutler" sells clothing to reenactors. Notice the laced corset containing the chemise and covering the waistband?

2/3. The Voyageurs land in their birchbark canoes. You can see the French Priest, who will offer a blessing, in one of the canoes. Races are held later in the day, and usually involve stealing a woman from the shore. I've been known to set my friends up for a surprise boat ride by positioning them close to the ramp!

4. I followed this sweet Dad and his kids for awhile on my way to purchase an herbed pork chop (sold by the Rossville Future Farmers) and corn on the cob from the local Progressive school. Loved his blanket coat, and his little band of reenactors. They would have slept in a canvas tent the night before.

5. A local boy scout troop spends the weekend baking apple dumplings in huge wooden ovens, and stirring a cidery sauce in large copper pots over fires. The lines get long, so eat your apple dumpling for breakfast and then loosen your laces!

6/7 There are at least 7 fife and drum corps in my area, representing different periods in the Fort's history. This one is British. Notice the Highlander in the foreground? There was a Scottish regiment stationed here for awhile, and there are bagpipes and Highland games to prove it! In my youth, they were all male, and known to party the whole weekend. Now, the ladies can join, too! Love the socks! The Highlanders sell Fofar Bridies as their fundraiser. DH always gets two!

8. This small group of friends were making the most of the day! They are wearing "hobby horse" (or chicken) outfits that the woman in the center created. Let's just say that the woman in the center had a flask in his pannier petticoats! JFE?

9-12. More period clothing for sale.

13. Millenial hipster take on Feast fashion. This group was fascinating. Notice the young woman wearing the breeches and striped scarf. And the gentleman in the fetching blue coat! These folks were spectators making the most of the opportunity for a little cosplay.

15. Me? I just dressed to keep warm. I knew I would also smell like wood smoke, so everything gets thrown directly in the wash! Next year, I think I might like to wear a blanket poncho!

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9 years ago

Greyscale

Veteran

!! I grew up in the fife and drum world in New England, where many small towns have a Revolutionary War style fife corps. I've met quite a few people from the Michigan/Wisconsin area groups, and some of the best musicians in the group I used to perform with were from there, so they talked about the Feast of the Harvest Moon a lot. Fife & Drum folks aren't reenactors - we're performers, much less concerned with the fine details of historical accuracy - but there's some overlap. And by a funny coincidence, one of my reenactor/fife friends who grew up going to the Feast just posted photos of an 18th century fashion runway show she helped with this week in Boston, where she got to model undergarments! (Which of course cover a lot more of the body than our current styles.)

Thanks for posting these!

I almost feel like I know some folks in photo 7, actually... hm.

Also, the breeches in photo 13 look great on them but I had to wear that bubble butt style every weekend in high school and college and let me tell you, they are not universally flattering!

Beth Ann

Greyscale, I wish I had performed in one of these groups -- I was a flute player after all, although, let's face it, I have a singer's temperament and always want to solo! And I don't like uniforms of any kind! I do love the intersection of music and history, even though my interests have taken a more classical turn. Right now, I'm working on a concert that profiles the 50 year friendship between Clara Schumann and Pauline Viardot Garcia, a singer as well known in her day as Clara. Haven't decided yet whether to wear period costume. I'm thinking we might just "reference" the period in a parlor set and a few touches in silhouette, hair, or jewelry.

As for the breeches --- she is adorable in them, isn't she? I wouldn't wear them past the outhouse!

So... were you a fifer or a drummer?

I was a fifer. I never thought it would be my 'serious' instrument (I played French horn in school, though not very well) but it ended up getting me some cool opportunities. We even got to play with the Boston Pops orchestra on the 4th of July a few times, and I've traveled around the world for performances. Here's a picture of me in costume when I was around 21. (I'm in the middle.) Sure is a lot of America in this photo.

That group was pretty serious about the music, so we had a few trained flute players, plus people like me who played as kids and kept going (I was a much less skilled musician). There's actually a US Army fife & drum corps that also attracts a lot of people with flute performance degrees -- it's a great gig, a rare opportunity for a full-time music job with great benefits (I never considered that though).

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JAileen

It looks like fun. In our area we have pipe bands which my son was in (we had to go to lots of weekend events, too) and we have Civil War reenactors.

I guess this is related: I've knit several Voyageur caps, which are traditionally red. I did knit a red one but gave it away. I'm planning another untraditional Fair Isle one. They're really warm with the turned up ribbing.

Yay, Greyscale! Love the pic. Your costumes were crisp and polished -- quite fabulously revolutionary!

Jaileen --- I didn't get a great pic of a Voyageur this year. Love those red caps!

approprio

(website)

I have precisely nothing to add about reenactment of historical events, fife playing or bubble butt pants. I just want to say what a fantastic post this is. Fascinating! Thanks for sharing!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

I echo Liz. This was a fun read, Beth Ann. Thanks for sharing your vivid words and visuals. You look adorable.

Firecracker (Sharan)

How interesting! This is a world (both historical and current) that I didn't even know existed. (The French in Indiana? I guess I should have known but didn't.)

SandyG

Our family had a Canadian vacation and literally walked into a big field filled with this. It was the best living history lesson all around! We had tons of questions and tried to parse the French, ogled everyone's costume and tent, and came away immersed in both US and Canada's past. It was beyond fabulous and we just caught it by chance, lucky us.

Joy

Thank you. BethAnn. This is so interesting. We have the Civil War enactments here but my family line goes back to those early natives and British settlers. I'd love to attend one of these feasts some day.

So fun to hear everyone else's experiences. Firecracker: Sandy's experience points out the breadth of the French influence in what would have then been "wilderness." The Voyageurs traded in animal pelts -- mostly beaver that was essential to make hats for Europeans, who had hunted their own beavers to extinction. Another fashion link! The trade lines traveled from Canada all the way to New Orleans. The fact that the French were nomadic travelers, and not settlers, likely explains their small numbers in modern day Indiana. Those that had families typically intermarried with the Wea tribe. I did not get a good pic of the First Nations LaCrosse game -- native presence at the festival is a highlight.

rachylou

I think I'd go for the long sky blue coat and knee breeches as something to try and work into every day life...

Elizabeth P

What a fntastic post Beth Ann, thanks so much for sharing. Sounds like an amazing day.

Thanks to you also greyscale, for that glimpse into your past. Fun!

Rachy: I didn't get good pictures of the First Nations participants. The best was a group of Iriqouis from NY who come every year. They do a marvelous set of LaCrosse games. The announcer had me in stitches, and the play was fun. I felt freer taking pictures of the reenactors than, well, actual First Nations folk being themselves. Except for "Loin Cloth Man. I think his native connections are dubious. And he dresses like a 19th century Souix -- in the woodlands.

VioletMyra

Active Member

Thank you for posting! It was an enjoyable read and the photos added to my enjoyment.
Best wishes.

Oh, I would love to see the lacrosse... and yes, I think it's tricky to try and adopt First Nations fashion... spectres of Urban Outfitters, etc., the times they've gone wrong...

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