As I slowly assemble the pieces of what I hope will be my 150th years' clothing, starting from the inside out, one part concerns me most: I have arthritic shoulders. I know older lower-class women in the period faced this problem and made some accommodation that would allow them to dress and undress themselves. The patterns I have don't seem to allow for anything but youth and agility, judging by the fit when I make a muslin; so far, getting into a fitted bodice requires someone else to hold it up for me.
A wrapper might solve the problem, but it doesn't seem to be the proper dress for what I have in mind, namely a less conspicuous way to do kabuki duty. I'm after the kind of dull brown or dark gray thing a hapless middle-aged civilian woman of reduced circumstances might be wearing to approach the picket line long enough to hand over whatever it is that needs taken into or out of camp, then get shooed off back into the woods, down the path or whatever it takes to get out of sight.
I've looked over a lot of period dresses (none of which contemplated anything the size of me, I'm afraid), but have no clear preference and would welcome any suggestions.
A wrapper might solve the problem, but it doesn't seem to be the proper dress for what I have in mind, namely a less conspicuous way to do kabuki duty. I'm after the kind of dull brown or dark gray thing a hapless middle-aged civilian woman of reduced circumstances might be wearing to approach the picket line long enough to hand over whatever it is that needs taken into or out of camp, then get shooed off back into the woods, down the path or whatever it takes to get out of sight.
I've looked over a lot of period dresses (none of which contemplated anything the size of me, I'm afraid), but have no clear preference and would welcome any suggestions.
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