Clothing of the Civil War at April 26 Antiques Club Meeting

While there were fashion leaders in the 1860s, most people wanted to avoid being “disagreeably conspicuous.” Men and women wanted to look comme il faut – French for “as it should be.” Askins will introduce the audience to some of the complicated factors that shape clothing choices, with a look at how they influenced the way Americans dressed during the Civil War years.

Askins is Site Manager for the Geneva Historical Society’s Rose Hill Mansion. Prior to coming to the Society, she did graduate research on social and costume history at the University of Rochester and previously worked at the Rochester Museum & Science Center and the Oswego Historical Society. She has also consulted on clothing for the Wayne County Historical Society and the Broome County Historical Society.