Shirt Question?

[The Arapaho Kid]

I've been looking at shirts for my CAS clothing. CHE--WA--WA!!!   They want a mint for some of them!  So...the question here is....could one use a standard, long sleeved Navy Dungaree shirt?  They are cotton chambray and a light blue as some of you ol' anchor clankers know.  I know they arent "period correct", but they are cheap!  I think I can get a couple of them at the local Navy base for about 6 bucks each in their clothing sales department.  If I wore one of those to a shoot would the "clothing cops" come around and get in my face about it?

The other thing I see on guys are chaps and those leather cuffs.  Are those required, or ar they an option?  I"ve priced those and they are a little on the pricey side too.  I'm on kind of a limited income and I can't afford to be paying 60 to 85 bucks for a shirt, or 70 to 90 bucks for a pair of pants.  I gotta go CHEAP!  I've got the pants covered though.  I found some regular jeans in brown and tan.  I removed all the logo labels and added Logger Buttons for my spenders.

So lemme know about this stuff!  Thanks!

[Jax Orebetter]

Those blue shirts will work. Another place to try is your local thrift store or Good Will. I have picked up a couple of banded collared shirts there for $3 to $5. That's also a good place to find suspenders. You might also want to try Wild West Mercantile  https://www.wwmerc.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=home

I have found some great deals in their bargain corral. I picked up one shirt for $9 plus shipping.    They have some on sale right now in a variety of sizes and colors for $19!

[Howdy Doody]

Jax is sure right on that those shirts will work fine. You can make them look more authenic by removing one or both pockets too, and if you want to try it, you can remove the collar too and end up with a band necked shirt.
When I started up in CAS, there were many tips on getting up and outfit for cheap. There seems to be a trend now of just buying store boughts. I remember a pard I shot with a lot that wore only a pair of red long johns, boots, hat and scarf. He was really a standout. His outfit was low dollar. Arapaho, just remember, most of the folks we are trying to imitate didn't have much money to buy duds either. Another source of good stuff is thrift shops. You can get vests and even hats suitable for CAS. I have a nice Stetson derby type hat that I found in an antique store for $10. You can buy those square toed boots that I think are called harness boots brand new for under $30. Good luck with your shirt, it will be fine.
I was just thinking that if you were to go on base to buy the shirt, check out the dungarees too. Button fly and patch pockets on the back. They are bell bottomed, but you can sew the leg straight and cut off the excess material and add some buttons for suspenders. Just an idea.

[The Arapaho Kid]

I'm covered on pants, boots, a bandana and hat.  My hat is a Stetson safari type hat.  I removed the Puggaree band and replaced it with a one inch wide, multi-colored, braded horsehair hatband with tassles.  My boots are those Civil War Cavalry type, square toe boots with the knee protector and I wear brass Cav spurs on them.  Pants are regular jeans in browns and tans.  Company logo tags taken off and logger buttons installed for my spenders.  My bandana is a classic!  I found a Jack Daniels Field Tester bandana!

The shirt I want to get is one of those Cavalry, Bib Front ones...in fire engine red!  I've found a few, but HOO-WEE!!!...the prices!!!  Those things don't come cheap!

[Curley Cole]

Kid
This shirt was made by my ex wife from one of the Buckaroo Bobbins patterns. We used wood buttons and i think it looks pretty good.
Another shirt I use is an old Arrow dress shirt. It looks like the old mattress ticking pattern. I cut the collar off and it looks just like the old timey collar less kind. It even can still be buttoned up. I got a really good wool vest at the last day of EOT at clearance for $25.00

Actually I enjoy looking at ways to either make my stuff or modify stuff to work. That's half the fun. Anybody with a pocket of cash or credit cards can dress to the hilt..

So, don't sweat it, just keep doin what you are doin...thats the fun in it...well that and shootin stuff.
Curley

[Silver Creek Slim]

If you are going to SASS sanctioned matches, you don't have to be historically correct. You can wear blue jeans and snap western shirts if you want. When I started, I wore oxford shirts and blue jeans. If there are "clothing cops" partoling at SASS matches just tell 'em, "This ain't NCOWS!" 

Slim

[The Arapaho Kid]

The reason I brought up the "clothing cops" was because a couple of the guys up in this area told me that occasionally, at a match, there will be guys walking around and getting in peoples faces for not being period correct.  I've heard they knock people for wearing rough out cowboy boots, shirts, or pants not being period correct and all that stuff.  These guys told me that this does happen on occasion. That's why I brought up the Navy dungaree shirts.  I can get those at the local Navy Base for cheap.  Pockets and collars can be removed if necessary, but I wear a vest and that'll cover up shirt pockets.  Either way...I'm not going to worry a whole lot about this, but I just wanted some input on those shirts.

[Marauder]

IT's funny, because from what I've read, most of us are either wearing the wrong type shirt or wearing them incorrectly. 

The "no-collar" banded shirts were dress shirts of the period.  But, folks would have thought it quite improper to wear them without the collar - which of course was separate.  And probably a tie of some sort as well.

The common work shirt of the time is pretty much as you mention, Arapaho.  So most of the real cowboys actually wore something much closer to our cotton work shirt.  You can also see this from the yoke or "fireman" shirt such as the nice one Curley Cole wears in his picture.  They had the regular collor because it was a Work shirt rather than a dress shirt.

Plus SASS is about tv "reel" cowboys as well as historic real cowboys.  Either way, the collored work shirt is appropriate and probably more appropriate than the banded shirts I wear without a collar.

Finally, remember that the shirt was considered the "undershirt" and was twas not proper to be seen in publich in only your underwear!!!       You should have at least a waist coat (vest).  Now if you were working along in hot weather, maybe...

[Big Hext Finnigan]

Kid, ya worry too much!  Go shoot, have fun, learn while ya go..
Nobody ever showed up at a CAS match ready to go by posting on the 'Net.

[Lightnin Rick]

Ya know I have heard alot about the (fashion police) but I dont think they are real.
No one really cares about specifics on clothes, when you are new. just watch the movies and  you can get ideas. there are alot of thrift stores , garage sales and ebay.

[J.D. Stawker]

I am an official member of the clothes police. I hereby declare all of you in violation and fine you $5 a piece.
Send your money to me and I will see that it gets to the proper authorities

[Silver Creek Slim]

I am an official member of the clothes police. I hereby declare all of you in violation and fine you $5 a piece.
Send your money to me and I will see that it gets to the proper authorities

Send to your old address or your new one? 

Slim