By Alexandra Molnar, Contributing Writer
Northborough – When Kathleen Pierce first presented the idea for an historical fashion show to her sewing circle last summer, she never thought it would become a significant Northborough Historical Society (NHS) event to celebrate Northborough’s 250th anniversary.
Eighteen months and more than 20 costumes later, the NHS is ready to present “Our Founding Fathers” fashion show Sunday, May 22, at the Northborough Historical Society.
Twenty characters, who were real Northborough residents living from 1776 to the 1930s, will be represented by 34 models showing off outfits to a narrated script presenting background history on the characters.
Though the narration will discuss history, the emphasis on the program is fashion.
“We love clothes!” Pierce said. “Most [of the wardrobes being modeled] were worn by people in this town. I try to envision town residents in these outfits.”
None of the original costumes have been majorly altered. Consequently, original outfits that are either too delicate or too small to be worn will be on display at the show, including a child’s corset from late 1700s.
Ellen Racine, Cynthia Atwood and Pierce, members of the NHS and 250th anniversary Sewing Circle who made most of the costumes, used authentic fabrics that were available in the past including cotton, wool, silk, linen and brocade.
Atwood herself created three outfits, two that represent Reverend John and Mary Marret Martyn circa 1745 that she and her husband will model. Reverend Martyn’s outfit includes breeches, vest and a tricorn hat. Atwood’s husband designed the shoes, making shoe buckles from cardboard covered with aluminum and using a strip of leather for the shoe tongue.
In depth research in magazines, books, and Internet sources brought many surprising and intriguing facts to light. Pierce learned why men’s cutaway coats stopped at the waist and were split in the back: the particular design enabled men to more easily ride horses.
One particular outfit from the NHS collection of which the group is especially proud is the Lydia Ball white empire dress from 1805. It is an original wedding dress in the regency style that Atwood described as “very simple.”
Another interesting find includes wrappers, women’s house dresses that served as an early form of maternity wear as they were loose fitting and not worn with corsets. Wrappers were strictly house wear. “You don’t greet guests in your wrapper,” Racine said, repeating what she gleaned from a magazine excerpt.
Another unique clothing article is a lace cotton dress that was fabricated before the sewing machine was widespread. The sewing machine was invented around 1835, but most households did not have one until the 1860s.
Research, which also included seeking biographical information on the Northborough residents being represented, revealed information that allows the outfits to be viewed in cultural and historical context.
For example, in the 1800s the empire waist was considered scandalous for some time as the dresses were low cut and revealed cleavage. Dresses were also made of sheer cotton, similar to the material of a handkerchief. However, during the Victorian and Edwardian Age, these trends were reversed with outfits having high necks and corsets.
“We’ve had a grand time,” Pierce said of her work organizing the show.
Despite enjoying the preparation, Pierce admits that “it was a bit of a challenge to get people to fit into these [outfits].”
Additionally, the group wanted to select characters that would represent a broad time span, but many of the historical figures who they researched were contemporaries living from the 1830s to 1880s.
It was also difficult to find information about female residents. Most sources were mainly about the men while merely referencing their wives. In order to retrieve more in-depth data, Pierce, Atwood and Racine researched genealogies, NHS files and books, including “Kent’s History of Northborough,” and online sources.
Over the years, Pierce, Atwood and Racine have organized other shows involving fashion, including one in 2010 called “Decades of Style” that displayed period clothing on mannequins and their first collaborative project in 2008 called “Brides through the Ages.” “Our Founding Fashions” will be their first show using live models and involving the whole NHS.
Referring to the upcoming fashion show in a joking manner, Pierce said “this is our magnum opus.”
Tickets are $10 and must be purchased in advance as seating is limited. Call 508-393-2871 or email [email protected] to reserve tickets.