Lance-Corporal Eli Powell, Co’y B of the 49th, here to answer your questions! 1. WHAT ARE THOSE? (Collar dogs) These are my collar dogs. They usually indicate what regiment I belong to. I still have mine from when I joined up, for the Canadian Expeditionary Force. I don’t imagine the army will get around to sending me new ones …
Beyond the Bob: 1920s Hairstyles- Part I: The Long Hair Dilemma
Listen: ‘ª Shall I Have It Bobbed or Shingled? One of the first challenges I came across when preparing to work as a costumed historical interpreter on 1920s street at Fort Edmonton Park last summer was the issue of hairstyles. Namely, when you think of the 1920s, what pops into your head? Probably something like this: Known as the “bob”, this short hairstyle is iconic …
1880s Bustle Skirt and Bodice – A View into the Costume Shop
Welcome back to our costume blog posts! You may remember some of our earlier posts about Fort Edmonton Fashion. Generally on the whole, the fabric is what inspires the design in the Fort Edmonton Park costume shop – I don’t draw a sketch and then find the fabric, I find the fabric then draw the sketch to go with it. …
Wardrobe Profile – 1885 Bustle
This is an 1880s bustle outfit, and another group effort by all of the members of the costume shop – Nicole built the petticoat, Aileen built the lobster bustle cage, Kristen draped the skirt, and Adele built the bodice, in that order. The bodice sleeves are inspired by a wedding dress designed by Charles Frederick Worth, the “father of haute …
Wardrobe Profile – 1905 Teen Costumes
Costume assistants Kristen Brooks, Nicole McCormick and Aileen Twa just finished these 1905 costumes for 13-15 year old girls. They each feature a “shirtwaist”, skirt, and pointed belt. Garments for children were, amazingly, typically of light colours – if they were constructed of cotton they could be boiled clean. The lines of children’s garments were reminiscent of their parents’, but …
Clothes Make the Man… And the Woman
Did you know? Wardrobe Manager, Adele Schatschneider, looking demure in an 1880’s bonnet, along with a small but talented staff, has been fashioning, repairing and cleaning the costumes used by interpretive staff and volunteers of Fort Edmonton Park since 1998. Most of the authentic period costumes worn by Interpreters, Cashiers, Midway Attendants, Actors and Education Programmers in the Park are …
Wardrobe Profile – 1880s Walking Suit
Fort Edmonton Park Wardrobe Manager Adele Schatschneider gives us a peek into the happenings in the Wardrobe Department. 1880s walking suit without a bustle (bustles are what were used to create the large posterior popular in waves throughout the 1870s and 1880s). It is comprised of three pieces; a skirt, a bodice, and a jacket. 100% cotton with glass and …
Beads and Hides – A Link to the Past
Our Costume Manager Adele Schatschneider shares a story about a new staff member in the costume shop… “Fort Edmonton Park is always looking for ways to develop the interpretive story to make it more compelling to visitors as well as the staff and volunteers themselves. One of the ways we do this is by augmenting the costume collection, ensuring it …
Dressing the Part – Costumes at the Park
When your job involves taking people back in time you need to dress the part. Ever wonder where we get all of our costumes for the eras of 1846 to the 1920’s? We make them! Lean about the rewarding work of Adele Schatschneider and how our park staff make your visit feel like you are part of the past.
What’s Happening at the Costume Shop?
Fort Edmonton Park has maintained a vibrant indigenous interpretive program for many years (as anyone who has stopped at our Cree Camp can testify). In 2009 and 2010, FEP rededicated itself to targeting this aspect of Edmonton’s history for growth and development. For the Public Programs unit, this meant stepping up our game on the ground and starts at our …