ZOOM - Getting Dressed 18th-Century Style
Course | Registration opens 1/21/2025 8:00 AM EST
You’ve probably all seen costumed interpreters at 18th-century historic sites, like Colonial Williamsburg or at Independence Park in Philadelphia. But have you ever wondered exactly how many pieces of clothing they are wearing? What was the function of all these layers? Just how long does it take them to get dressed? And of course, the most frequently asked question during the summer months – aren’t they hot? This presentation will take a closer look at men's and women’s 18th-century fashion, the names and functions of the various wardrobe pieces, and how we know what people from the upper classes wore.
Elizabeth Bertheaud
Elizabeth Bertheaud, a native of Chester County, Pennsylvania, has been the site director of the Ephrata Cloister for the past sixteen years. Prior to that, she was the Site Director at Brandywine Battlefield Park and the Chadds Ford Historical Society. Her interests include women's history with a focus on 18th-century textiles and clothing, open-hearth cooking, gardening, as well as architecture and tombstone art. At home she is most often to be found with a needle in her hand, making 18th-century clothing, cross-stitching, or knitting.