Traditional Costume

[Chrissie_B]

I am looking for a website/outlet that sells traditional Canal costume, can anyone help!!!

[denboy]

I am looking for a website/outlet that sells traditional Canal costume, can anyone help!!!

might be something to find here .

>> http://www.canaljunction.com/craft/horsedrawn1.htm

[sueb]

Traditional costume varies depending on the year of boating. As a traditional boater told me today, he always wore blue cotton trousers with a check shirt.

Sue

[alan_fincher]

I am looking for a website/outlet that sells traditional Canal costume, can anyone help!!!

Millets, based on many of the published pictures of working boatmen and boatwomen in the 1960s......

 

Edited cos I can never speel.

Edited July 6, 2008 by alan_fincher

[carlt]

Have you tried primark?

They weren't well paid, so they would, traditionally, use the cheapest outlets.

[Gary Peacock]

Here we go-

 

[Grace and Favour]

Here we go-

 

 

 

I think I've seen this family on the Huddersfield Narrow . . . . .

 

(although I cannot be certain - as there are so many dressed similarly . .. . . . )

[MartinClark]

I think I've seen this family on the Huddersfield Narrow . . . . .

 

(although I cannot be certain - as there are so many dressed similarly . .. . . . )

Well, of course. That's how everyone dresses in Mossley!

[charles123]

I am looking for a website/outlet that sells traditional Canal costume, can anyone help!!!

 

Could try the NB President supporters club, they all wear the completely authentic unisex oufits of white shirt, pale cord trousers, dark waistcoat (worn open) and most important the neckercheif in red with white spots on

 

Charles

[bottle]

I am looking for a website/outlet that sells traditional Canal costume, can anyone help!!!

 

Hi Chrissie B

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

As Sueb said, the only tradition was that they wore the clothes they could afford and that could stand up to the rigours of the work.

 

The 'traditional' clothing, as that worn by the 'showboats' is not in my opinion traditional, just for the gongoozlers, that do not know better.

[Bones]

Try contacting nb HADAR who are members of this forum too... they have traditional costumes, and could tell you where they got it from I expect.

[carlt]

Here we go-

 

I never had you down as a redhead, Gary!

[denboy]

I never had you down as a redhead, Gary!

No hair just a red head

[Chertsey]

I am looking for a website/outlet that sells traditional Canal costume, can anyone help!!!

 

Why?

 

If it's for operating a boat, please don't go there!!

 

If it's for a play or something, you could probably cobble most of it together yourself using pictures and photos, depending on the period. Very specialised things like bonnets and embroidery, you could perhaps find people through the Waterways Craft Guild?

[Proper Job]

Try contacting nb HADAR who are members of this forum too... they have traditional costumes, and could tell you where they got it from I expect.

I thought that was Keiths 'Sunday Best'.

 

It does come with the optional in-grained coal dust though!

[Phil Speight]

Hi Chrissie B

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

As Sueb said, the only tradition was that they wore the clothes they could afford and that could stand up to the rigours of the work.

 

The 'traditional' clothing, as that worn by the 'showboats' is not in my opinion traditional, just for the gongoozlers, that do not know better.

After both world wars I`m quite sure boatmen would wear a lot of army surplus. For their wedding they would wear a suit just like any other self respecting working man of the time. In the sixties take your pick from leather jackets, sports jackets , denims , army greatcoats, donkey jackets etc. This uniform of kneckerchiefs , waistcoats and collarless shirts is totally inappropriate to boats with diesel engines and , I`m not convinced would accurately reflect any period of canal history at all . In the horse boat days boat women`s bonnets and men`s embroidered belts were no doubt a canal fashion - but even then the bonnets were not unique to the canal. I sometimes think surviving boatmen must think modern "traditionally "dressed enthusiasts are taking the p*ss! Yes , the Josher steamer crews did have a uniform "for best" - but the one now worn by the Friends of the President is not at all the same and the whole uniform thing was pretty well unique to the steamers.

Dadford`s wharf is a garden gnome free zone as far as I`m concerned.

Phil

[fuzzyduck]

When out on my boat I always wear traditional dress.

 

Spandex, platform shoes, and cheese cloth shirts undone to the waist, with a medallion.

 

Well it was built in the early 70's

 

Edited to say, anyone know where I can get a chest wig from?

Edited July 7, 2008 by fuzzyduck

[alan_fincher]

I think we may have scared poor Chrissie off, after what was her first post.

 

To give some balance, whilst it is certainly true that most pictures of old canal boatmen and boatwomen show them dressed in "workaday" clothes, others clearly show items of the "costumes", that it then gets assumed they always wore.

 

In particular the boatwoman's bonnet is actually a feature of many old photos, and there is evidence that some of the more mature ladies still wore these in the final decades of commercial narrowboat carrying, (although it would I think have been very unusual by then).

 

Chrissie,

 

If you are after things like bonnets, looking around will turn up things like this....

 

http://www.lhcrt.org.uk/bonnetkit.htm

 

However, if you want to be even halfway authentic, I'd stick to the "plain white", rather than patterned options. I don't think the latter have any place in creating a genuine look!

 

I must admit I like the archive pictures that clearly show people on working narrowboats dressed in "Captain's" or even cowboy hats. That would be easy to do, and because pictures exist that show it, it must be an accurate recreation!

[Derek R.]

I think we may have scared poor Chrissie off, after what was her first post.

 

To give some balance, whilst it is certainly true that most pictures of old canal boatmen and boatwomen show them dressed in "workaday" clothes, others clearly show items of the "costumes", that it then gets assumed they always wore.

 

In particular the boatwoman's bonnet is actually a feature of many old photos, and there is evidence that some of the more mature ladies still wore these in the final decades of commercial narrowboat carrying, (although it would I think have been very unusual by then).

 

Chrissie,

 

If you are after things like bonnets, looking around will turn up things like this....

 

http://www.lhcrt.org.uk/bonnetkit.htm

 

However, if you want to be even halfway authentic, I'd stick to the "plain white", rather than patterned options. I don't think the latter have any place in creating a genuine look!

 

I must admit I like the archive pictures that clearly show people on working narrowboats dressed in "Captain's" or even cowboy hats. That would be easy to do, and because pictures exist that show it, it must be an accurate recreation!

 

Cowboy hats with the compulsory "Kiss me quick" band, and added Brylcreme.

 

Come back Chrissie - we'd like to help, but need more detail. What period - for what purpose? As has been alluded to, the late 19C ankle length skirts, billowing sleeves and bonnets were throw backs to former fashions, and for practical reasons would be a liability boating today. From the twenties on it was what could be got for a reasonable price - jumble sales, Army surplus. Simple, ordinary, hard wearing clothes.

Edited July 7, 2008 by Derek R.

[charles123]

When out on my boat I always wear traditional dress.

 

Spandex, platform shoes, and cheese cloth shirts undone to the waist, with a medallion.

 

Well it was built in the early 70's

 

Edited to say, anyone know where I can get a chest wig from?

 

blimey that does bring it back, cheesecloth shirts, what about loons, do you remember those hugely flared trousers?

 

Charles

[Delirium]

blimey that does bring it back, cheesecloth shirts, what about loons, do you remember those hugely flared trousers?

 

Charles

 

All the better for being in crimpolene *shudder*. I well remember running around locks in the 70's wearing purple crimpolene flares with silver stars on the side seams from the knee down. My only excuse was being 7

[saltysplash]

All the better for being in crimpolene *shudder*. I well remember running around locks in the 70's wearing purple crimpolene flares with silver stars on the side seams from the knee down. My only excuse was being 7

 

 

tush!!! by then all fashion conscious boaters were wearing high waist band trousers and by the 80's farah's

 

 

My last trip saw me decked out in comfy leggings or shorts from Matalan and Lancashire County and 20/20 Cricket shirts...oh and also a welsh rugby shirt

 

 

The wet moments saw me in Brizabone Coat and hat described by Swmbo as looking like the villain from 'I know what you did last summer'

 

Here we go-

 

 

 

Isnt this the Saddleworth Cloggers annual dress?

[Chrissie_B]

Cowboy hats with the compulsory "Kiss me quick" band, and added Brylcreme.

 

Come back Chrissie - we'd like to help, but need more detail. What period - for what purpose? As has been alluded to, the late 19C ankle length skirts, billowing sleeves and bonnets were throw backs to former fashions, and for practical reasons would be a liability boating today. From the twenties on it was what could be got for a reasonable price - jumble sales, Army surplus. Simple, ordinary, hard wearing clothes.

[/quote

 

I am back, sorry busy woman. I am looking at the early 40's. I am at present reading the Annie Murray Books for example the "Narrowboat Girl" Excellent reading. But i would like to get an idea of what the costume looked like for a project i am embarking on.

[carlt]

If anyone's got any photos of James Loader's crew, when they dressed in war-time gear for the Braunston show, three years ago.....

[Chrissie_B]

I think we may have scared poor Chrissie off, after what was her first post.

 

To give some balance, whilst it is certainly true that most pictures of old canal boatmen and boatwomen show them dressed in "workaday" clothes, others clearly show items of the "costumes", that it then gets assumed they always wore.

 

In particular the boatwoman's bonnet is actually a feature of many old photos, and there is evidence that some of the more mature ladies still wore these in the final decades of commercial narrowboat carrying, (although it would I think have been very unusual by then).

 

Chrissie,

 

If you are after things like bonnets, looking around will turn up things like this....

 

http://www.lhcrt.org.uk/bonnetkit.htm

 

However, if you want to be even halfway authentic, I'd stick to the "plain white", rather than patterned options. I don't think the latter have any place in creating a genuine look!

 

I must admit I like the archive pictures that clearly show people on working narrowboats dressed in "Captain's" or even cowboy hats. That would be easy to do, and because pictures exist that show it, it must be an accurate recreation!

 

 

Thanks for the website its a starting place for me to make the bonnet and start to put together the rest of the costume. I really appreciate your help.