Cate W. 2015

How can you tell if a shoe is for someone that is fancy or not? The man at the shoe shop said, “For men shoes you have to look a little closer. Typical men shoes in the period are just going to be black leather. So for in a distance you aren’t going to see difference. Buckles are how the shoes close. See this shoe has ties, which is something worth less than a buckle. That means whoever had this shoe couldn’t afford buckles. This one is really average nothing too special. five or six shillings. Now this soft leather right? Bound edge. All of the stitching is hidden. So this is a really fancy shoe.” How can you tell if a wig is for someone in the gentry class or not? “The fact that you’re wearing a wig is going to give you the status because only 5% of the population can afford to wear them at all. Now within that, gentlemen’s fashions dictated on their profession, doctor, lawyer, merchant, but only the very wealthy that can afford them at all.” Paraphrase:

Annabelle H.

2015

Great Hopes Plantation, Interpreter

What would the working class wear?

“Well, I’m wearing trousers which is very working class as appose to wearing knee britches. That’s more the fashion and this is more for working. My sleeves are rolled up, I’m wearing a hat because I’m working. gentlemen would wear all the same plus a coat and a wig. My clothes is mostly made out of common fabrics, and not silks.”

Where did you get your clothing? Did you make it?

“You can go to a tailor to have them  make it, or on the plantation your probably going to make your own clothes, and spin your own cloth.”