Unmentionables

Due to a very early appointment this morning, I typed this blog last night.  I will relate the next Bingo stories tomorrow morning. 

As for the unmentionables, come on guys, you know you always wanted to look under that skirt.  Seriously, the late 1890's early 1900's, you wouldn't have seen a thing.  The amount of clothing people wore was just incredible.  Especially the ladies.  The "ladies" of the red light district wore quite a bit less.  Here's a good example of the wardrobes of the time.  

These are known as drawers.  A short loose cotton garment with straps over the shoulders.  Ever seen those pictures of the gals hanging over the upstairs balcony with their lace stockings on?  Yes, of COURSE I also have stockings.  Two pair made of wool that are the worst things on the planet to wear.  Talk about ITCHY.  

In Europe, they were known as French drawers.  I have two pair of these my grandmother wore.  Pretty racey that lady.  

Over the top of the drawers came the pain inducing corset.  While getting dressed up for a stroll down the streets of the gold town of Columbia, I tried this one on.  Never EVER do this when you are alone.  I got stuck and couldn't reach the hooks.  Panic set in faster than you can imagine because I literally could not breathe.  Luckily I got it off and never wore it again ... EVER!  I've no idea how my grandmother survived this torturous device. 

Next came the little chemise type top to cover up the corset.  This one has no hooks or buttons, it just ties in the front with the pretty pink ribbon.

This one is a little heavier for winter wear.  

Follow that up with the prettier, nicer one, which would show through the final garment.

Slips came next.  At least two like these.  Waist to floor, tied on with cords.

The blouse ... not quite the final, because there was usually a coat or jacket that was worn over the top.  Can you just imagine wearing all of this when it was 115 degrees out in Tombstone?  The good news is that's one reason they wore so many layers.  Only the bottom layer or two had to be washed and hung to dry.  Everything else was worn again and again.  Maybe that's when perfume was invented.

Lastly, the heavyweight floor length skirt.  This one has thick metal weights sewn into the hem all around, to keep it from blowing up if it was windy.  This skirt weighs in at 16 pounds.  Most of these were not go-to-town wear.  They were things my grandmother wore every day.  I just cannot imagine ... though I did get a little sample here and there when I gussied up to go to town and pose for pictures with the tourists.  It was SO HOT!!

This was probably a Tombstone summer skirt.  It is very thin material, which I might think is silk.  You can never wash anything like this because silk in the old days was acid washed.  Add water and it will instantly dissolve into a big glob of glue.  

I will try to clean the rest of the garments as best I can.  They can only take a dip in the bathtub to be swished around a bit and dried on towels ... hopefully in the sun.  Won't that be fun ... pretending I don't have a washing machine!!  

And here's a little update for those that read Bobseyes.net blog.  His network crashed, but he says it didn't hurt and he's just fine.  Bob is working on getting it restored, but you know how those internet repair guys are ... it's on their schedule, not Bobs.  Hopefully he'll be back at it soon!