Personal interpretation

[Allen]

Im starting this as a new thread but it could just have easily been expanded in to the points of a few of the existing topics here .. 'pants in boots for one' .. 'Authenticity according to whom' .. for another .. and a few others besides.

We all know and pretty much agree I think what is right .. period correct, and what is wrong .. Hollywood etc. but in accepting certain facts as being historicaly correct, do we wear and/or use equipment simply because we know it to be right and because we are expected to wear/use it in a certain way .. or do we apply personal interpretation, or to use another phrase I like to use .. first person interpretation !

What I mean by first person interpretation is this ... what would the person you are today, your character, your personal feelings have led you to do back then .. would, or do you wear your clothes in a certain way because it is expected of you within the confines of the hobby, or do you wear what you know to be period correct the way you want to ??
Take the pants in boots issue for example .. both ways we know are acceptable but I wonder if some wear them tucked in because they are told to, are expected to, or simply because they want to .. and the same applies to other period correct items and equipment.

Do many of us I wonder apply personal preferences in our period correct dress and appearance ... or do we just follow the herd .. ??

[Ginny Morgan]

Fascinating stuff, Doc and you are so right on about the ethnic mix and immigrants. That is what has always fascinated me. So many different peoples settled the west. I would love to see folks re enact some one other than the generic all American townie or westerner. I did read somewhere or was told that most immigrants put away thier ethnic dress as soon as they could because they wanted to be as American as everyone who was already here. I visited some museum once and saw several German ethnic outfits in perfect condition because they had been put away after arrival..the people did not want to stand out...my own grandmother was from Denmark and would never speak Danish to any of us..she said we are Americans and we would speak English.

[M.D."Doc"Ingalls]

Briggs,

Looking forwardward to your comments. From your posts I see that you're more inclined to the Eastern Civil War era. I tried Civil War for a short time (Confedrate), but just couldn't get into as much as my friends did.
I also don't do much 1880's. While living in Tombstone for awhile of course I'd dress for that period. But I also dressed for the 1930's while there. Use to run around in a 1930 Model A pick-up.
But the period of from 1869 to about 1880 (the 1870's) seen to be more interesting to me.
A lot happened in that time frame. The intercontinental railroad was completed and bringing more folks then ever to the west. The big cattle drives were in their hay day. It was the peak of the buffalo hunters. Towns were going up and going under as fast as the railroads passed them by. Even Tombstone got it's start in 1879. The "Indian Wars" were in full swing. Stagecoaching was still a viable travel mode, although it was making shorter runs for the most part. The James/Younger gang, John Hardin, Clay Allison and James Hickok are still around. Firearms are going from cap and ball to cartridge. Telephones and electric lighting were being tried out in certain areas of the west. Goods were coming from the East faster then ever and newstyles in clothes ( Women were getting the newest fashions from Paris within a few weeks instead of months). It just seems to me at that time it was a Nation in flux, so to say. Looking to read your take on all this.

M.D."Doc"Ingalls

[Allen]

Hi all.. firstly my apologies, its not my way to post and run so's to speak, Ive been away for a couple of days, secondly thanks for the input .. all good stuff, a lot to read and try and make answers or points of my own by way of reply .. !!

I watched Frontier House, it was aired in the UK and I ahve to admit there is a very valid point made there about condition and attitude of the people involved between the begining and the end of the program .. perhaps we would all look more accurate in our portraylas, and fitter too, if we did actually 'lived it' ... lived the period for any length of time, without any of our modern day utensils etc etc.

It would seem also from some of the replies that many of us do, while still remaining accurate tot he times portrayed, in fact apply personal preferences to what we wear and use, or may that should be, the way we wear and use period items .. myelf I just dont like collarless shirts and am thankful that band collar and collar attached shirts were around and correct to use .. I would have a problem otherwise and that is an example I guess of what I am tryign to get over int eh main post .. if I had been around back then, my personality would have led me to not wear collarless shirts as I dont want to, or do today .. its the same with leather cuffs, I just dotn liek them, correct or not and wouldnt have worn them back then, again as I dotn wear them now .. so Im not wearing and using stuff simply because it was around then and would be deemed 'correct' or expected of me to do so in a portrayal, I acknowledge it was done then, but in applying 'first person' interpretation, then I am dong today what I would have done then and not wearing/using clothing or utensils whatever, because my personal preference dictates I simply dont like and/or am not comfortable in them.

I think someone also broached the subject of the definition of 'personal interpretation' and 'correct' .. ??

To take them in reverse, 'correct' being simply .. as it was done then .. ?? ... and 'personal interpretation' being your own individual adaptation to what was/is correct for the time .. ??

I look forward to more input .. been great so far .. thanks.

[Allen]

You make a good point Noah, but I think to be honest its way too deep ... Your points are valid and make a great deal of sense but my initial question was simply by way of asking if others, like I freely admit I do, extend personal preferences about what they wear and use within the confines of the way things were done in the period they are re-enacting .. as per the examples I gave above regarding shirts and cuffs.

I just wont wear collarless shirts or cuffs, simply because I dont like them, does that make me wrong in my interpretation then simply because they were worn back then ?? does that mean we HAVE to wear these things (or any items of course) today regardless of how we feel about certain items .... dont get me wrong, if there was no alternative and I had to wear them, or any other item, because thats all there was, then I would do so of course, but applying my personal characteristics, because I dont like them, because there is an alternative that still allows me to be period correct, then I wont and dont wear them.

The scenario presents itself that if everyone wore and used what is period correct with no personal interpretation or likes and dislikes applied to them, then we would all look more or less the same surely ?

[M.D."Doc"Ingalls]

Allen I'm with you!
I hate those dang cuffs! They chaf my wrists and actually protect nothing for me. But then I don't cowboy. I used a catch rope when I had horses, and I was only mediocer at that. But I could throw a loop well enough to catch my pony.
When I need protection for my hands I have a couple of pair of gauntlets that I turn to. And short gloves were available as well.
As for collar and collarless shirts, I have both. Once again, a paper or linen detachable collar drives me nuts always rubbing on my neck. I've worn them, but haven't enjoyed it. After I took them off I looked like I'd been the guest of honor at a hemp pulling party.
But I still have the darn things just in case I get an urge to dress up and the shirt I want to wear does not have a collar. And I also have a pair of old cuffs a friend gave me when I worked for him. But I just look at them in the box where they're stored. I use to wear sashes, but after that "movie" they became such a cliche', I rarely wear them now. And if I do, it's a black or mulity colored one.

M.D."Doc"Ingalls

[Sixgun]

Gayle there are 3 reasons why you cant do that.
1 it aint taxed unkie sam dont git none
2 budweiser would go broke
3 jack daniels would go broke
Thats the reasons.
That group of Texans is ZZTop
Six

[Unkle Sherman]

Thats sounds like fun Reb

[Unkle Sherman]

Well, some of us like them Rubenesque wimmenfolk

[Mike Franklin]

I'm 6'8" and about 330. My Great Grandfather was a giant at 6'4" but I'd have dwarfed him. I try to dress as historically correct as possible. I fail a lot, especially with my glasses, but I try. I guess we can only do our best. I will not lie in the bed worrying about my short comings, I’ll just continue do my best.

[Mike Franklin]

I can get pants from Texas Jack's. I have a local Lady who makes my shirts. I buy the cloth and buttons she puts'm together. I customize my boots myself. I get a new custom hat about every 6 or 8 years, I wear 3 or 4 hats through the week.
Oddly enough eyeglasses are the toughest thing to get right. Getting someone to cut me a set of single vision lenses is like finding the Holy Grail.
BTW, the best, and best for the price, suspenders I've found come from Dixie Gun Works.
Thanks for the info. I'm always in the market for a vintage girlfriend too. ;-]

[Mike Franklin]

So where do you get clones of vintage eyewear?
Got any web sites?

[M.D."Doc"Ingalls]

Mike a couple of places I know of are, Amazon Pickle and Vinager Works, River Junction Trade Company and James Townsend Traders. You might also look in second hand and antique stores. There is a chain of antique malls called The Brass Armadillo where I have seen period glasses at good prices. One could spend a day at the Brass Armadillo. I know I've done it more then once.

M.D."Doc"Ingalls