Cowgirls and Shady Ladies History
CLASS DESCRIPTION Enroll Now Log In to Class
A primer on the "wilder side" of Victorian life from the ranch, to the entertainer,
to the saloon.
A comparative study will be done on "real" clothing
as opposed to Hollywood/Silver Screen ideas and ideals.
Each area will have a Bonus Section on ideas for costuming
for the reenactor of this era and Cowgirl shooters.
We will take a look at ranch life, the Wild West show performer,
old west outlaws, stage entertainers, and the soiled doves.
We tend to think of the ladies of the Old West with a modern mind set.
I will attempt to show them as they were in their own time and world.
Fashion back east dictated restrictive clothing, and proper ladies followed
certain stringent rules to maintain respectability.
Did the cowgirl have any less respect because of who she was and what she wore?
Did the soiled dove really wear those fancy short costumes,
or run around in nothing but their corset?
Could a respectable lady wear red?? Do the movies have it right?
Or has artistic liberty run awry?! When this class is finished hopefully
you will have a better understanding of those ladies who dared to cross the line in the Old West.
I will also have movie suggestions and critiques,
book suggestions for further research,
and bonus pages with ideas for creating your own costumes for each section.
Class Dates
Spring Semester: Feb 1- April 30
Summer Semester: May 1- July 31
Work at your own pace- 6 lessons
Enrollment may be any time before 4 weeks before the class ends
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Marna Jean Davis- Instructor
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