Trousers

[oscar12388]

Hello!

I was wondering how was trousers changing from the 1850 to 1890's. Did they change shape during the years, or can I use the Past Patterns mid 19th century trousers pattern to portray a man in the 1890's?

Anyone who knows if the suspenders that use elastic cords instead of the regular leather end have a special name because I can't find it anywhere, just in antiques. Someone who know's?

I'll be truly grateful.

[Delmonico]

To be honest just buy Frontier Classics brand pants and remove the tag before washing.  You are going to have a hard time making them that cheap and that is not counting time.

[Stu Kettle]

& the frontier classics fit like they're supposed to and seem to hold up to wear pretty well. Although I do have a pair that after only 8 or 9 year I had to so a button back on.

[Delmonico]

& the frontier classics fit like they're supposed to and seem to hold up to wear pretty well. Although I do have a pair that after only 8 or 9 year I had to so a button back on.

You know I test them better than most ever will and they last as good or better than blue jeans and I mean real blue jeans, not this pre-washed beat up junk most folks today buy, I mean good old non-pre-wash ones.

[oscar12388]

But if a person want's to sew their own gear what kind of fit?

[Delmonico]

But if a person want's to sew their own gear what kind of fit?

Well the best picture collection from the period is this one:

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award98/nbhihtml/pshome.html

If you can figure out what is proper more power to you, to be truthful it can vary a lot, if you search real hard you can even find a picture of a guy with his fly unbuttoned, so I guess that can be period correct if you want it to be.  Happy searching.  (That ought to keep the new guy busy for a couple of months. )  Besides pictures are so much better than descriptions.

[James Hunt]

To answer your original question - no you can't use a trouser pattern from the 1850's to represent what was commonly worn in the 1890's.

During the 1870's clothing started to become more fitted. Observing images from the pre-CW and CW era we see pants that would to us appear baggy, almost ill fitting. Clothing from this era was prepared by a seamstress, or for poorer folk from the women in the family. By the 1890's clothing was machine sewn (except for button holes) and followed a fit more similar to what we would think appropriate today. Trousers remained high waisted will into the 20th century. No belt loops.

Quality CW sutlers will provide you with a product that would carry you into the mid 1870's. There are others out there like Walton and Taylor that will provide a quality product representative of the 1890's.

Not sure about who would sell patterns, although you could get a pair and then use them to pattern others. I only made one pair of pants, that was  enough for my minimal skills. I used a pair of pants as a pattern.

Current commercial trousers such as frontier classics are reasonably priced, and sort of OK, I wear them for CMSA as when I have an unplanned dismount I don't sweat damage - to them, not me, that I do worry about. But for living history I consider them inadequate. Your question seems to imply you are looking for more than a "it sort of looks correct" garment. Good for you.

Also - I understand what you are asking about in terms of braces, but don't know of a source. I have seen them at events so there are out there.

[Grenadier]

These are dead on correct, hard to find something better.

http://www.njsekela.com/OSCommerce/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=54&osCsid=memcfrms8n5enaq0rsa193fl32

[ChuckBurrows]

one of the better patterns available based on an original pair of pants
http://www.lafnmoon.com/product_p/p119.htm

[Skeeter Lewis]

I made these from the pattern Chuck mentions above....
http://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index.php/topic,47033.0.html