Greetings Earthlings, I'm making a 1770's colonial rural town crier. Obviously, the client wants it to look Paul Revere-ish and sorta Norman Rockwell.... nothing unusual and something kids [his audience] will get right away. It's hot down here and everything will be linen....in fact linen I ALREADY HAD in a box in a closet...Yay! So I want to evoke a colonial military uniform but not have it actually be a uniform. The shirt is made...and is white handkerchief linen with buttons made of shell. The waistcoat will be unbleached linen that has a pale bone/ taupe look and that typical linen weave. I think I'll line it in some medium brown cotton I have. The breeches will be a linen that looks like kettle cloth, y'know where the yarns are unevenly dyed. It has a medium indigo blue mixed with the bone color of the waistcoat. The coat will be a typical civilian coat without revers in a blue that almost looks like denim but with more of a cobalt blue hue to it. I thought I would line it in white but cannot find any light weight cotton chintz or slick poplin or sateen. I was thinking about buying some cotton sateen sheets to line it with. I had to talk him into the coat so I want to keep it linen/cotton and light. Should I do a mariner's cuff? Too military? I want it to really have the feel of just a piece of cloth, y'know. I may not put any inner-facing in it. I plan to wet it and crumple it a bit so it's not crisp and fashionable. That sagging rumpled linen look. And maybe some gaiters. I like the look of all those buttons up the outside calf. But I do also have riding boots... but I'd have to put a cuff on them and I don't know if he wants to fool with boots. Of course all the buttons on the gaiters! Talk about fooling with something. Which brings me to buttons. Gaiters, breeches, coat, waistcoat.... I need a million of them. Anyone have a fave source? I like the idea of bone or horn on the breeches and waistcoat and some metal on the coat and gaiters. Haven't check anywhere like Greenburg & Hammer yet but I found some good choices here: _http://www.mjtrim.com/Catalog/Category/423.aspx?gclid=CPH37_vt-40CFQMYFQodikA rKw_ (http://www.mjtrim.com/Catalog/Category/423.aspx?gclid=CPH37_vt-40CFQMYFQodikArKw) But how about those typical plain ol' pewter buttons. I haven't even looked...but where would you go for those? Certainly right for the gaiters. How about a leather tricorn? Too "Pirates of the Caribbean?" The only other thing I think he needs is a satchel. That could fulfill my leather accessory need! Does any reenactor vendor make a military leather satchel? It doesn't look like a difficult thing to make though. Or I wonder in a tack shop would have something like saddle bags that might work. Hmmmmm.... Any input from you learnéd colleagues will be most welcome.
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