I'm starting an ongoing project here on the blog. I've been wondering how women in the late 1800s on the frontier might have shared their fashion, sewing methods, or techniques, when all these different cultures were first getting acquainted. We have images of people like Annie Oakley in Wild West shows in heavily embroidered and beaded costumes, combining aspects of Native American fashion with traditional anglo dresses. But did the average white settler swap sewing tips with her Native American neighbor? Did she adopt any of the local fashion she was seeing on Mexican women in the southwest? Was there any swapping or combining of these frontier fashions before the boho/festival trends that started in the 60s?
I've found myself reading a lot about women on the frontier - primarily in the Southwest - to find out what they wore, how they made their clothes and what their fashion influences were. I'm planning to organize all the information I've read into a series of articles for the blog that explores the styles of the women who were living on the frontier at this time and whether the fashions and trends of any of the groups of ladies influenced the others. It's helping me work through what I've been reading and scratching that itch I've had to research how fashion, textiles and design might have combined in the west.
I hope other people are as interested in this subject as I am - it's already had me doing some creating so I might also post some patterns inspired by some of the research. I'm interested in any feedback you might have so please feel free to comment! I'm looking forward to sharing.