Lucy

I am greatly looking forward to my first trip to Williamsburg in January. I know there are reenactors working there who wear 18th century style clothing. I was wondering if any visitors do as well? I sew reproduction 18th century clothing and seldom get a chance to wear any of it. I think that touring Williamsburg would be an ideal time to wear it. (My husband thinks I am crazy) Perhaps someone more familiar with Williamsburg can tell me if visitors ever show up in 18th century garb?
Thanks, Lucy

Chris

I've never seen visitors in Colonial garb, except for the children wearing tri-corner hats, bonnets, carrying toy swords and guns, etc. The clothing the paid re-enactors wear is extremely detailed and accurate, even worn and dirty when it's supposed to be. The Colonial Williamsburg reenactors are wearing what one would be wearing at a particular location or time of day or for a particular occupation. It might be fun to wear your outfit...but if it were inappropriate (a ball gown on the street for example)I wonder how that would be received ... by visitors and reenactors alike. You certainly are brave for considering it! Maybe you should check out the "scene" one day before you decide to don your outfit!

lisa

Just got back from a trip to Williamsburg. I didn't see any visitors wearing period clothing, other than children. In addition to the hats, you can actually rent children's clothes for the day. My concern for you would be that other visitors would stop you and ask you lots of questions!

Joanne

I've never seen a visitor in costume at Williamsburg, either. It's not participatory, like a Ren Faire.

Phil

Lucy,
If you're not hurting anyone, go for it. There are people wearing period clothing and walking all around. I don't think most people will think you look out of place.

In fact, I think you should make your husband wear a powdered wig!

Lucy

Thank you everyone for the comments...Although I do have appropriate 18th century day wear (I participate in a couple Colonial reenactment events here at home) I have decided not to bother with it in Williamsburg. Instead I will just enjoy looking at the clothing the people who work there are wearing. I guess I just got a bit impulsive when we booked the trip! I've been wanting to visit Williamsburg for a long time. I appreciate the helpful advice I have found on this board.

Susan

I would call CW if I were you and tell them that you have a strong interest in period fashion. I would wonder if they would do a behind the scenes tour for you. Some of their fashions are displayed at the DeWitt Wallace but I'm sure they have many more pieces.

hey

I just came back from a three-day trip to Williamsburg on Sunday, and I saw a book that would interest you. It was all about colonial period clothing, complete with patterns! I can't remember the name, but it was in the big bookstore in the visitor's center -- there's a section of books on crafts, sewing, etc., and it was a featured selection (on a table) in that area.

Enjoy your trip! I agree with other posters that wearing your "garb" would probably not be a great idea; the Williamsburg character interpreters wander the streets as well as the buildings, and other visitors would definitely think you were an employee, which might cause problems.

rb-traveler

Go for it!

Actually, I've seen a Williamsburg local on several of my many trips to Williamsburg who dresses in period garb. She apparently is quite the regular, and knows the area well, so gets asked a lot of local info, etc. She does let them know she's NOT staff.

What better time than a CW visit to be able to check the authenticity of your own wardrobe. Also, you'll be wearing a visitor pass ... so there should be no reason to be confused with staff.

TIP: Bring some sort of clear badge holder that you can wear around the neck, rather than having to use one of the "stick-on" one day passes, or the "clip on" yearly CW passes.

S

Lucy,
Since you're into this stuff already, you're request makes sense. Do what someone else suggested and call the area in advance. If you can enhance your visit, go for it!

AA

Lucy, how was your trip ?

Lucy

We did have a wonderful time in Williamsburg. Going in mid-January we found that several of the sites in Williamsburg were not open. Still, there was more than enough for us to see and do during the long weekend we were there. There were no crowds at all during that time of year. Personally I would rather go when it is not crowded even if it does mean that not everything will be open to view...
Someone did Email me wondering about my trip. In the end I did not bring along my own 18th century period clothing although once we were there I thought it would have added to the experiene a bit...
Because it was very cold and rainy during the weekend we were there I did bring and wear a long red wool hooded cloak that was the same as some of the female reenactors were wearing...It kept me nice and warm and was kind of a compromise on the 18th century garb I'd been considering!
Now that I have been there I don't think a person would be out of place wearing 18th century reproduction clothing there...you would just want to be sure it was accurate for the period etc, otherwise you would look and feel out of place, kind of like you were in a "costume" of some sort. My husband does not participate in Colonial reenacting as I do, and I think he was a bit relieved that I didn't do it in the end! Anyway, we both had a wonderful winter break in Williamsburg and I look forward to going here again one day.