Founding Fashions – Clothing from the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783
Wednesday, September 30, 2015 6 p.m.
Fashion Show in the Bigelow Courtyard / 21 Unity Street, Boston’s North End
As part of Boston Fashion Week, the Old North Foundation is hosting an Eighteenth century fashion show. Learn about both fashion and function of men and women’s clothing during the Revolutionary War period.
Jay Calderin, Boston Fashion Week Founder and Executive Director, and advisor to the Old North Fashion Show, adds: “For over twenty years Boston Fashion Week has been exploring and experimenting with fashion and what it means to our community — the art, the culture, the science, the technology, and the history. The cycle of fashion moves faster and faster every day, making Founding Fashions an exciting and important event because it challenges us to measure fashion in centuries, not just decades or even seasons.”
Thirty reenactors will walk the runway showing the clothing and uniforms of the men, women, and children of The Revolutionary War. You will see British regulars and Continental soldiers, ball gowns and riding habits, sailors and farmers, and everything in between! This is your chance to see 240 year-old fashions outside of museums and on reallife models. With commentary from experts in Revolutionary Period textiles, you will learn about the materials, construction, design, and functionality of the garments on display, and be encouraged to notice and be inspired by details that are still used in fashion today. Old North is proud to collaborate with experts in the field on 18th century tailoring. The event is an official Boston Fashion Week event.
Student ($25) and general admission tickets ($40) are on sale through the social crowdfunding site: www.fundraise.com/old-north-foundation-founding-fashions. Proceeds from the event will benefit the educational programming of the Old North Foundation.
Event sponsors are invited to socialize with the models and view their beautiful 18th century clothing more closely at a private reception after the show.
“A little of what you call frippery is very necessary towards looking like the rest of the world.” Abigail Adams
About the Old North Foundation
The Old North Foundation is the secular, non-profit organization dedicated to the operation, restoration and preservation of the Old North Church. The historic site is located at 193 Salem Street, in Boston’s North End, and is part of Boston’s Freedom Trail
