Undressing History: Women’s Clothes and Unmentionables from the 19th Century

Undressing History: Women’s Clothes & Unmentionables from the 19th Century

A History Space Talk Presented by

the Newport Historical Society & the Rhode Island Historical Society

The Newport Historical Society and the Rhode Island Historical Society are pleased to partner for their first 2018 joint History Space talk when they present Undressing History: Women’s Clothes & Unmentionables from the 19th Century. During this program, which will be offered in Providence and again in Newport, historical costumer Carrie Midura will share some of the secrets (and stuffing) that were hidden beneath the leg-o-mutton sleeves and shelf-like bustle gowns of the 19th century.

Using a combination of meticulously created period reproductions and original garments from her private collection, Carrie will walk visitors through the process of getting dressed during very different decades of the 1800s. This interactive presentation features the undergarments that supported and shaped the fashionable female form when styles and silhouettes were changing as quickly as the New England weather. The program closes with the opportunity to touch and examine these unmentionables that were once commonly found in every lady’s wardrobe.

Carrie Midura has been sewing professionally and as hobby for 25+ years and has taught sewing classes throughout New England. She has been researching and reproducing historic costume since 1992, with a primary focus on eighteenth and early nineteenth century methods and styles since 1999. Her clients included Revolutionary War reenactors, staff and volunteers at the Concord Museum, the historic Massachusetts estate Gore Place, and Adams National Historical Park. Carrie places a great deal of importance on period construction techniques and close attention to detail. Today, she is the Wardrobe Supervisor for the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum where she is passionate about sewing clothing to help costumed interpreters tell the important story of the 1773 event while teaching others to do the same.

Undressing History: Women’s Clothes & Unmentionables from the 19th Century takes place on the following dates:
•Providence, RI: Tuesday, March 6, 2018· p.m. at the Rhode Island Historical Society’s Aldrich House, 110 Benevolent Street, Providence, RI. Free and open to the public. Space is limited, please RSVP https://tinyurl.com/y7s6txls or call 401-331-8575 x360.
•Newport, RI: Thursday May 3, 2018 at 5:30pm at the Newport Historical Society Resource Center, 82 Touro Street, Newport, RI. General admission costs $5 per person and $1 for NHS members along with active duty military. Space is limited, please RSVP below or call 401-841-8770.

This program is generously sponsored by the Harborside Inn. https://www.newportharborsideinn.com/