Past
Reflections

Museum-Quality
Clothing Reproductions

Past Reflections
Cedar Plaza Bldg
21649 Goddard Rd.
Suite C160
Taylor, MI 48180

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Alternate E-Mail
(734)287-3288

Fax: (734)287-3288

The era of the crinoline was one of the most distinctive and lovely styles in the history of women's clothing. The increasing prosperity of the middle classes in the 19th century had brought the rage to be a la mode within the reach of enormous numbers of women who had never before aspired to be fashionable. Later in the century, new dyes and new methods of producing fabrics and trims gave even the amateur dressmaker the ability to produce a fashion statement.

Past Reflections helps to recreate that era with superb quality custom and ready-to-wear clothing. Our commitment to historically accurate appearance is second to none. This web site provides a few examples of our productions for the Civil War and other eras. For more information, please send $6.00 for our catalog.

Click on the thumbnail photographs for a more detailed view.

Civil War Era Clothing

Day Dresses, or Informal Wear

 A Day Dress would be worn in the mornings or afternoons, for informal occasions such as breakfast, or household chores. They generally have a closed or close fitting sleeve. They can be fitted, gathered, pleated or fan front. The skirts are generally a little less full, but can be worn over multiple petticoats or a hoop. They are usually made of cotton or wool, for easy care.

The cost for a simple day dress starts at $220; contact us for a detailed price quotation on your custom orders.


Afternoon Dresses, or Semi-Formal Wear

 An Afternoon, Tea, or Promenade dress has more trim and generally a more open sleeve, like a modified or full pagoda sleeve, although a close fitting sleeve can be worn for the afternoon as well. The bodices are usually the same design as the day dress with more trimmings added. The skirts usually are fuller, to accommodate a fuller hoop, and have more fullness to the back of the skirt, which can be slightly longer and training. More expensive fabrics can be used for this style of dress: silks, wools, and finer cottons.

Afternoon dresses are more complex, and prices will vary more widely, starting at $300 for a simple model; contact us for custom orders.


Evening or Formal Wear

 These dresses are made of the most lavish styling one could imagine. They usually have short sleeves, but a three-quarter length sleeve is also acceptable. They can open in the back or front, with buttons, hooks and eyes or eyelets. Very fine silks, cottons and blends of silk and wool have been known to be used for formal wear. The skirts are very full and sometimes training in the back. Expensive laces and trims were generally used for eveningwear.

The cost of an evening gown can vary enormously, depending on the complexity of the design and the trim, and the quality and type of fabric. Basic designs will start at $325; contact us for custom orders.


Children's Clothing

 Children's clothing, during the American Civil War era, was not just the fluff and ruffles one might see in the popular fashion plates of the time. Most children's clothing served functional purposes. Boys' shirts and trousers would have buttoned to other underthings, as did some of the clothing for the girls. We find, in looking at original children's garments, that they were very utilitarian by their own design. Many of the styles of garments we reproduce are taken from documented children's clothing of whatever era they represent.

The cost of children's garments vary, so please feel free to contact us for your child's special historical clothing needs.


Accessories

 Accessory pieces encompass a large area of necessary items for the person wishing to create an accurate historical persona. One may start out with the dress, but it is what goes under the dress that will create the period silhouette. Our accessory category includes both underpinnings and outerwear. (Most women don't think about a coat or cape, until the temperatures fall into the range of "I'm chilly, dear. May I borrow your Greatcoat?" Nothing ruins a beautifully thought-out ensemble like a gentleman's greatcoat.) Ladies, let us create the perfect outer garment for you, along with a lovely bonnet, hood, or hat.

Again, because of the vast number of items in the accessory category, please contact us for pricing, so we may perfectly coordinate your wardrobe.


Other Time Periods

At Past Reflections, we are striving to supply your every historical time period needs. We have been reproducing clothing from the early 19th century through to the 1920s. Of late, we have reproduced dresses from the "Titanic" era as well as dresses that could be worn by members of SASS (Single Action Six Shooters). We have researched garments in museum collections as far west as Cody, Wyoming, so that we are accurate in the reproducing of garments from other time periods.

Please contact us for pricing on your special historical needs.

1830s, formal 1870s, afternoon 1890s, day 1890s, afternoon 1912, formal

The Past Reflections Catalog

For a detailed price list and a larger sample of the many and varied options available in period women's clothing, order a copy of our copiously illustrated catalog.

To request a copy of our catalog send $6.00 to: 

Past Reflections
Cedar Plaza Bldg
21649 Goddard Rd.
Taylor, MI 48180
(734)287-3288

Proprietors' Resumes

Mission Statement

Past Reflections is a company dedicated to the reproduction of authentic historical clothing of the 18th and 19th century. The main focus of the company is the Victorian time period. Jackie Wakeling and Monette De Lozier started the company in 1988. The mission of the company is to reproduce the finest quality historical clothing and to provide teaching and learning experiences for those that are interested in bringing history to life. Some of the customers that we service include the National Park Service, movie companies and museums. We also have an extensive clientele, not only in the United States, but in Canada, Germany and Switzerland. The company provides a line of ready-to-wear clothing for the Civil War re-enactor, and custom made garments and accessories for most other time periods. Some of the other items available through the company include historically correct textiles and hardware. In this coming year, a line of patterns drafted from original garments will be added . Past Reflections also provides public service shows and lectures for profit and benefits. The Historical Fashion shows are considered a favorite by many people that view them, as they are not only treated to some elaborate clothing display but a little bit of social history of the United States as well. In the future, Past Reflections will continue to help individuals bring history to life, by providing the most authentically made garments, patterns and textiles the public can buy.

Links

  • Quartermaster Shop (men's clothing and uniforms)
  • The Victorian Fashion Pages
  • Farthingales (fabrics and dressmaking supplies
  • The Wyandotte Museum
  • Camp Chase Gazette: The Voice of Civil War Reenacting
  • Chapman & Sons (artillery sights)
  • The Town Square (resources for reenactors, Leann Thompson)
  • Third Battery, 1st Michigan Light Artillery
  • The Civil War Artillery Page
    • This web site is maintained by Chuck Ten Brink, webmaster@cwartillery.org, and was last updated 4/29/03. All text and images are copyright 1998 by Past Reflections, which is solely responsible for the content and reserves all rights.