Start of an outfit

[hotfxr]

Since the day I started messing in the black powder dark arts I swore I would absolutely never be sucked into the furry hat group that likes to dress up in period clothing. As usual I am eating my words. While experimenting with different configurations of equipment, trying to carry everything that I would need for a rendezvous or an all day hunting trip into hostile Indian territory, "She who must be obeyed" declared that I needed to dress the part because in her words I looked like a dork wearing the bags, horn, etc in modern clothes. Before I start working on the finer details I have acquired some basics; moccassins, linen hunting shirt, canvas pants, 3" leather belt. I am aiming roughly for the Lewis & Clark trapper era. Here is a picture that she took this morning while I was trying everything on for size.



It would probably look better if I wasn't wearing the John Lennon costume glasses and I wasn't puffing out my cheeks, but that's what happens when she wants to take pictures of me a 5:30 in the morning.

I plan on dying the belt reddish brown, along with making a 3" leather sash that will connect to the belt so I can turn it into a batman like utility belt and hang some of the smaller tools that are in the bag to make shooting more efficient. I need to cut some length off the pants, and I guess I need to pick up a felt hat since I have bean told repeatedly that my canvas oilskin hat is not correct. And when I first walked in with my Daniel Boone coonskin hat she laughed hard at first then started looking up divorce attorney to make me take it off.
So this is the beginning and I am actively seeking advice, comments, and even criticisms towards finishing this outfit up. I didn't want to do it, but if I have to, then I would like it to be proper.

[gunmaker]

Yep, a new hat, maybe a wide brim felt one, or a wool sock hat for cold mornings.  You might want to dye the shirt & pants as well.  Brown, dark green, blue--some earth color.  A really good start, Should work most places the thread counters aren't attending....Tom

[beowulf]

yep , nice dye job , a new hat , and you`re good to go !

[pilgrim]

                   

[Dogshirt]

   Not your picture, but rather dealing "SHE", do NOT let her dictate what you wear! Mine tried that and I told her SHE could drive to the rondies and wear what SHE wanted and I would take my truck and wear what I wanted, Long story short, I wear what I want and SHE rides along and keeps her comments to herself. Any comments at Rondy and it's a LONG walk back home!

[Don]

The next item I would suggest is a canteen.  Got to have some water.

[beowulf]

belt is just a little to new looking ! rub a little olive oil into it and let it lie in the sun for a while , it`ll darken up a bit , or you could use a little wood stain or leather dye ( either one works ) and after it dries rub some johnsons paste wax on it , let it sit for several minutes then buff it with a piece of denim or canvas .  gives it a nice aged look and softens the leather up a bit !

[hotfxr]

So as much as I hate hats, and after watching Jeremiah Johnson again, would this hat be politically correct?



I gave away my old tophats and I really don't think a fez will work out well, and the Stetsons are too modern.

[hotfxr]

belt is just a little to new looking ! rub a little olive oil into it and let it lie in the sun for a while , it`ll darken up a bit , or you could use a little wood stain or leather dye ( either one works ) and after it dries rub some johnsons paste wax on it , let it sit for several minutes then buff it with a piece of denim or canvas .  gives it a nice aged look and softens the leather up a bit !

Just got the belt off Ebay, it was supposed to be already stained but is just raw leather. After I figure out how I want to build in sheaths and loops and such I will put it all together and color it up a bit. You know I like pretty and shiny things.

[Red Badger]

My main suggestion here is the Minnetonka Mocc's.  They work good ( I have a set also) but if your going for the Lewis and Clark era they are inapproprate unless you are spanish.  Those high tops with fringe are apache in origine and we didn't meet up with them for a few more years...

I cut the fringe off mine and go away with them at the events I go to.  But becareful if you walk over the sides of the sole they don't recover well. 

[beowulf]

the hat ! hhhhmmmm ! maybe get away with a southwestern  portrayal ,,,,maybe ! it`s a nice hat and all , but I think I`d go with felt ! . but that`s just me ! lol have owned several over the years , have a couple of liberty caps , had a really nice coyote fur hat with a bill , that I made , but last several years its been felt ! why ? well because I "felt" like it !

[Hawken50]

   Find the cheapest old felt cowboy hat you can find without a bound rim ,push out the crease in the crown then steam to hold shape and you have a pretty close hat they would have had back then. The outfit looks pretty darn good.

[beowulf]

 

[DandJofAZ]

  Find the cheapest old felt cowboy hat you can find without a bound rim ,push out the crease in the crown then steam to hold shape and you have a pretty close hat they would have had back then. The outfit looks pretty darn good.

So just ware the old hat in the swimming hole a few times...that seems to loosen them up a little and make them floppy.  Try it, it works...

Doug   

[hotfxr]

  Find the cheapest old felt cowboy hat you can find without a bound rim ,push out the crease in the crown then steam to hold shape and you have a pretty close hat they would have had back then. The outfit looks pretty darn good.

Now that seems like the kind of thing I can do well. As a matter of fact I have inadvertently done that to a few rather expensive Stetsons over the years. I didn't know I was actually remodeling them. I guess I was just ahead of my time.
Thanks, I will try that this weekend.