Aging clothing

[Buck Grizzly]

OK here is your chance to explain your best aging techniques. Other than just wearing them for months without bathing, burying them in the back yard for a few days, dipping them in tea and coffee, or all of the above, what is the best way to age clothing for performances.

 

Grime, sweat stains, and thread bear spots, for the most part.

 

Don't be shy tell us what you have done.

[Buck Grizzly]

Good advice Lee. I try and get people to understand this a lot. The best way to make clothes look lived in is to wear and live in them.

　

If you are a reenactor representing the poor or the working class, you wouldn't look like you were on your way to a ball. Yes it was the Victorian age, but most of the photos that are noted are of the elites in society, or an individual who is dressed up for the occasion.

Heard a story once from an old timer that the reason miners in Tombstone dressed so well when they were out on the town blowing their pay check, it was because they would take a bath and buy a new set of clothing before the party began. Often time you got what ever was available. Well when you went broke, usually before work started again, the clothes you were wearing often times became your work clothes until the next check came in. Then the routine started over. Those clothes were trashed and new one's replaced them.

　

Same was true for a good ranch hand in the cattle trail days. At the end of the trail they would buy themselves a nice suit, with at least one white shirt for special occasions, and by the time the next end of the trail arrived those clothes were basically rags.

　

Definitely depends on the character you are trying to portray, but everybody didn't look like they just fell out of the S & R catalogue.

[Santee]

Boy, I had a vest that was tea/coffee stained, added a little cooking oil in spots to look greasy, etc.

It finally got to smelling so bad, my wife threw it in the wash. It ALL came out. True testament to modern cleaning solutions.

Now I gotta start all over again...

[anthony martin]

   Santee, Try thinly diluted artist's acrylic paints.Once dry they don't wash out.I've had good luck with oil pastels as well-rub a bit on cloth or your fingertips and gently work it in.It is best to do this on a similar piece of scrap fabric until you get just the effect that pleases you.

[Santee]

Hmmm...good idea! Thanks.

[Buck Grizzly]

Well here it is, one 1880 prison suit complete with ball and chains accessories, and burlap moccasins.

 

http://truewest.ning.com/photo/ball-and-chains

[Wolfgang]

A good thread . . . for some time I've craved to have a duster like those worn in the opening of "Once Upon a Time in the West".   I have a thrift shop trench coat that I bought for under 3$ that I've stripped of the lining, belt, shoulder things, etc. . . . and am going to "antique", . . . .   :)   Thanks for all the tips and ideee'rs.  :)

[Buck Grizzly]

Ive seen people aging other stuff with acrylic paint but I never thought of using it on fabric