Pioneer Clothing – Function Over Fashion and a Giveaway!

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A hat is nothing until a woman has lived some of her life in it. ~Kaitlene Dee

Hello there! Kaitlene Dee here. Have you ever thought you might enjoy the clothing from another era? In my recently released covered wagon romance, Emma, the characters are traveling from a gold rush town in northern California to San Diego in a small, covered wagon train. Because I don’t enjoy heat—in fact, I prefer California winter weather—I set the story in the earlier part of the year when the temps are cool.
Clothing for the time period, along with food, is always favorite detail to include in a story. Clothes were handmade back then, made mostly of linen, wool, or a wool-linen called linsey-woolsey.
Footwear was boots for both men and women—the sturdy type, if they had them. While men wore loose trousers, women wore layers with their long dress of gingham or calico or wool with linen petticoats underneath. Some dresses were shorter than ankle length, which would’ve been nicer for walking or having less material to mind while working close to campfires when cooking. Over top of the dress, they wore an apron, a shoulder kerchief, and perhaps a shawl.
Men’s full shirts were open at the neck and made of cotton. Men didn’t layer much, they wore belts or suspenders, and a twilled coat in winter. Children were dressed pretty much the same as the adults once they were past toddlerhood. Younger than toddlers wore a one piece, such as a nightgown type garment.

Hats were essential protection from sun and wind. For men, hats were made of straw, felt, or fur. Which they wore depended on the weather. Women wore poke bonnets if they had them. Though poke bonnets first came into fashion in the early 1800s, a simpler version of them was perfect travel protection for pioneers who traveled many months over rugged terrain. As many women usually walked beside the wagons, these bonnets shielded the face from the sun and guarded it against the winds while they traveled the rough terrain over in the rocky mountain passes, sunny and dry deserts, and windy grasslands.
The poke bonnet, which tied beneath the chin, had a large, rounded brim that projected forward, both around and well past the face in the front. It also had a small crown that afforded room to poke up or hold the woman’s hair in that crown area. Here’s a replica poke bonnet, this one for sale on Amazon by Graceart: Cotton Pioneer Prairie Bonnet

In Emma, and in the story that follows her sister Viola, you never see either sister in night clothes. With the covered wagon bed being not much larger than a full-sized bed there wasn’t much room for anything not needed. Tools, food for people, supplemental food for the animals, cookware, in addition to the items folks wanted to bring to make their new life functional, had to all fit inside that tiny wagon space.

It had to pain those folks deeply to have to leave things on the side of the trail when they realized that if they didn’t, they might not be able to complete their journey. Because they didn’t have the luxury of space, nightgowns didn’t make it into my stories. The travelers wore nearly the same thing to bed as what they had worn all day that day.
I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad to have the modern comforts of a choice of clothing for weather conditions and time of day (such as pajamas and a nightgown), but I do sometimes entertain the idea of making a pioneer dress for a historical ball.

Have you ever wanted to wear something from the past? Let me know if you have made, worn, or bought something historical and what the occasion was.  I’m giving away a lovely ceramic travel mug to one lucky commenter!

Thank you so much for spending time with me today!



Kaitlene Dee lives on the west coast, enjoys outings along the coast and in the nearby mountains, hiking, supporting dog rescues and outdoor cooking and camping. She also writes contemporary western Christian romances as Tina Dee. Kaitlene and Tina’s books can be found on Amazon.
Please feel invited to join my newsletter at and receive a couple of free stories for subscribing: Kaitlene & Tina Dee’s Newsletter
Please follow me on Bookbub at Kaitlene Dee
Emma, and Viola, have both recently released as part of the Prairie Roses Collection and can be found on Amazon or read in Kindle Unlimited here. 

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100 thoughts on “Pioneer Clothing – Function Over Fashion and a Giveaway!”

  1. Being a history major and also in drama, I’ve participated in a few reenactments over the years. I can sew, but my mother was the real seamstress, and she usually made my costumes. I still have my colonial lady outfit.

    • How fun to have participated in re-enactments! I am part of a historical clothing group on FB and I have to say that I have a healthy respect for the folks there who make their own historical wear. Some of it looks like so much work (for the fancier gowns). Thanks for stopping by, Janice!

  3. We had planned on renewing our wedding vows for our 20th anniversary wearing clothes from the 1800’s. Its my favorite era. I swear I was born at the wrong time.

    • Lol! I feel I was born in the wrong era also, or would love to time travel back and forth from Regency to Victorian. What a fun idea to renew your vows in clothing from the 1800s. Did you get a chance to? Thanks so much for stopping by, Diane!

  4. Laura Ingalls Wilder is my favorite author. As a 3rd grade teacher, (just retired after 39 years) I celebrated her birthday in my classroom for many years. After reading the book, Little House on the Prairie, the students built log cabins and we would have “Pioneer Day.” We dressed in period attire while showcasing what we had learned. I have such fond memories of these precious times with my students!

    • I love this! What a wonderful impact you made on those children and in a way that made history come alive for them! As I read your comment, it reminded me of my beloved second grade teacher and how her teaching made me so excited to learn about anything. She made it fun and interactive. Thank you for being that kind of teacher, Susan! Thanks for sharing and for dropping by today.

  5. I have never made, worn, or bought something historical. However, I did read Laura Ingalls Wilder books when I was a kid and liked watching the TV show Little House on the Prairie.

    • I enjoyed those too, both the books and the TV show. I loved the clothes (at least the way they looked, I didn’t have to put all that on and wear it during summer’s unforgiving heat. Thank you for sharing, Diana!

  6. My grandma made me a poke bonnet. She wore them for gardening and working outside. She was born in 1910.

  7. I am thankful that I was not born in 1800. Like the choice that you can dress fur the weather. Do like reading about the past. All historical from Biblical times to world War 2.

    • Hi Sharon, I love the idea of dressing from the past, cooking and other things from the past, but I think I would not survive going back in time. I do enjoy the modern conveniences (even in clothing). It is nice to know how they did things back then. I do enjoy camping but that’s probably as close to historical living as I’ll get unless I can ever make it to one of the historical retreats for authors and readers. Thank you so much for dropping by today!

  8. I have never worn anything historical. I don’t think my grandmother’s scarf really counts in this case.

    • Hi Minna, I think the only time I ever wore anything close to historical was a hoop skirted dress for when we did the play, Pirates of Penzance in high school. I don’t know if that counts, but let’s count your grandmother’s scarf! Do you still have her scarf, or did you just borrow it for a short time? Thank you for stopping by!

    • I think so too, David. I read that sometime me wore wool trousers. I just cannot even imagine how hot that would be (or was it woolen?). Not comfortable. Thank you so much for dropping by today!

  10. yes our schools every year have a Pioneer Day and everyone is dressed as such/ My MIL & FIL helped with these for many years and I too enjoyed dressing up for the day! Remember the Gunne-Sax dresses??

    • I do remember those dresses, Teresa, and I loved them! I wish my son’s school had Pioneer Days dress day. I would have dressed in Pioneer clothing too! Do you still have the dresses or any of your kids clothing from those events? Thank you so much for sharing!

    • Hi Debby, isn’t that a beautiful bonnet? Something just like it would be great for gardening. Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a great weekend!

  13. I haven’t actually worn something of the past though in elementary school I had a pilgrim costume I wore for an assembly.

    • That still sounds fun! I remember visiting Colonial Williamsburg as a child and wishing I could wear a dress like the ladies there. Thank you for dropping by today, Erralee!

  14. Our church had Old Timer’s Day a couple of years, and we wore clothing like what they would have had in the 1800s. My dad drove his team of mules hooked to his wagon, and several of us rode our horses (although I had to hike my skirts up when I realized that I couldn’t really ride sidesaddle in a Western saddle!). A friend of ours made our clothes for us. Sweet memories!

    • That sounds like so much fun! Throw in a potluck and I’m ready for that! How fun to do that with your church family! I love that your dad had a team of mules and wagon and you all had horses and rode them. What incredible fun memories! Thank you for sharing them with us!

  15. I never wore anything from the past that I can think of but I would like to see some of the features of clothing come back. Like lace on clothing. Some of the clothing we wear today does not look feminine.

    • Hi Joye, I definitely agree with you on clothing nowadays. I had a shirt in high school with a lace collar. I loved that shirt/blouse. Thank you for stopping in and hanging out with us today!

    • Hi Drew, I haven’t had the chance to but I would love to some day at an author and reader retreat a couple of counties over. They have it at a nice hotel every Fall or every other year in the Fall. Have a great weekend and thank you for stopping by!

  17. I made a long brown skirt like Lou wore in The Young Riders and I bought a skirt from a vintage clothing store to wear under it. I loved it! I also bought a western slicker coat that was awesome. I love the clothing styles from that time period but I would have been one of the women who threw caution to the wind and wore pants 🙂

    • LOL! I love it! Wow, that sounds like a great outfit. Where did you get your slicker? I’ve always wanted one. Thank you so very much for stopping by and sharing what sounds like a very cool outfit! Have a great weekend.

  19. Aprons – I bet they wore aprons. Not sure though. But I would have! Thank you for coming today. I enjoyed your blog.

    • Yes, you are correct, they sure did! Half length that were long to cover the skirt and full aprons too. I should have included pics of those. I love the aprons. I’m thinking of making one, or a couple. Thank you for dropping in today!

  20. I didn’t wear most of them, but my husband and I worked at a shop where we made the costumes that were rented out at costume shops and we made some special orders, too.
    We made the big Southern Belle dresses, Victorian walking dresses, and several styles of costumes for the Renaissance Faire.

    When we had to remake some of our patterns, I kept the originals for the walking dress and some of the RenFaire stuff…. but that was almost 30 years and three moves ago. I don’t think we still have them.

    I made pattern adjustments, cut the fabric, translated instruction to the other workers, and did some sewing. John did some basic sewing and maintained the machines. He could sew anything on the home sewing machine, but those industrial ones were a bit too fast for his liking.

    • That’s so awesome! I love that you made period clothing and I absolutely love Victorian walking dresses! I like Renaissance dresses too. My husband works my sewing machine better than I do. I don’t sew much, I thought I would and would love making a historical dress, but his mom was quite the seamstress and he does love how gadgety a sewing machine seems (to him anyway). Thank you for sharing those memories with us, MaryEllen!

  21. When I was a teenager, I bought a long printed style dress that looked like something a pioneer would have worn. I really don’t remember why I bought it, I just thought it was pretty. As far as I remember, I didn’t ever wear it anywhere.

    • Hi Connie, do you still have the dress? That sounds like something I would do. Buy it but not wear it anywhere, just love it. LOL Thank you for sharing about the dress and I would love to know more about what it looked like (color and print). Have a great weekend!

  22. During the 1950’s when I was young we wore clothing from that era which was at that time normal.
    Poodle skirts, bobby socks, saddle shoes etc. Now everyone has it as a fashion statement.

    • Hi Sharon, when I was in Jr High, poodle skirts made a huge comeback, so did saddle shoes, at least in our area in S. CA. I wanted a poodle skirt so badly. My dad loved that but he didn’t help me get one LOL. Thank you so much for sharing!

  23. Hello to you today. Yes – I recall wearing the long dress when I was in a school play. My likes or not likes do not come to mind as that time period was 60 years ago. Since I was a teenage girl who was also a farmer’s daughter, my usual clothing was jeans and a short-sleeved shirt. Dresses were only worn on Sunday and to school as we were not allowed to wear pants to school. I looked okay in the play, but it would not be my desired choice for every day.

    • Thank you, Judy, for sharing about growing up on a farm and what your usual clothes for the day was. That makes sense with the work and ability to move about more freely without getting a skirt hung up on anything. Thanks for hanging out with us today!

  24. My mother and grandmother always wore aprons. It was a habit which protected your clothing and was also special since aprons had so many designs and styles.

    • Hi Anne, yes, I’m interested in making a couple of aprons, mostly for working around a homestead. My mom-in-law also wore aprons fairly regularly. I forgot about that until your comment. Thank you for hanging out with us today, Anne!

  25. oh but that mug is just gorgeous. but please dont pick me, I have no room for any more mugs. LOL I have loved clothes and such from times past. I especially loved those poke hats and had a few. I lived on a farm and they really came in handy working around the farm. when I went riding I would wear a cowboy hat. and I loved sombreros’. i had a couple of those also. I loved to wear skirts that mom made that looked like those the pioneer women wore. and mom made blouses like they wore than. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net

    • Hi Lori, how fun that you had the poke hats to wear gardening! I thought they might be especially nice for gardening in the summer. I’m not a fan of the sun. Love all the hats that you’ve had too! I think I know the skirts you’re referring to and my aunt made me 3 of them. I wish I still had them. Thank you so much for sharing with us today!

  27. I did make and wear a dress like the pioneer ladies wore. It was to participate in an event put on by the school where I was teaching. We also had to cook like they would have done on the trail.

    • Oh my! That would be a dream come true for me! I love the cooking aspect and would love to be doing that in a Pioneer dress–that is, until I was actually attempting it, LOL. I bet I would give up the dress, not being used to it near the open fire. I would probably get my skirt caught on fire! Thank you so much for sharing, Jackie. Love that you got a change to dress and cook like a pioneer.

  28. Every year the school celebrates Catholic Schools week and we dress up in silly socks and hats.

    • Hi Becky, that sounds fun! Something I definitely would look forward to. I love hats, don’t wear them often, but I do love them on myself or on other people. We have the Del Mar Racetrack nearby and Opening Day is always Hat Day and they have some real amazingly constructed hat-wear! Have a great weekend and thanks for sharing!

  29. The only thing from the past that I have worn is a bonnet. My mom made us some for when we worked in the garden or when I worked in the fields during haying time. Dresses were always a given, even during the haying season.

    • Really, even during the haying season you wore dresses? Did that make things more difficult or do you think you noticed? I love that your mom made you bonnets. Do you still have any of them? Thank you so very much for sharing!

  30. In high school, we performed the musical play “Oklahoma”. I sewed my own costume. The pattern required 22 yards of fabric! I’d often wondered why brand-new bolts of 36” fabric held 22 yards, and that’s why! I laid out the pattern on the fabric down the school halls while waiting my turn on stage. That sky blue dress with white eyelet lace around the neckline, sleeves and hem was quite the undertaking, but I loved it! My mom threw it away when I married and moved out. Sad.

    • 22 yards! WOW! can you imagine how much that would cost nowadays!? I’m trying to remember how much a yard of cotton print cost the last time I was at JoAnn’s Fabrics, I want to say it was over $3/yard but my memory is faulty. I’m not much of a sewer, I can do hems, LOL. I’m so sorry your mom threw out your dress, it sounds like it was gorgeous! Thank you for hanging out with us today, Sherry!

  31. In middle school my aunt made me a colonial nightgown for a play I was in and then later in middle school I was in an centennial program and wore authentic Indian dancers clothing. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

    • Hi Becky, that sounds like it would’ve been fun to be involved in both events. Love that you had the nightgown your mom made. Where did you get the Indian dancer’s clothing? Do you remember what nation or tribe it was? That’s so very cool and interesting. Thank you for spending time with us today and sharing!

  32. I have often thought I would like to wear a gown like I have seen in movies about the Civil War. But when I think about everything they had to wear underneath it certainly doesn’t seem comfortable.

    • Hi Ekiefer, I don’t think it sounds very comfortable either! I always wanted to dance a waltz in one of those dresses but I don’t think I could handle how hot I would be and would be so glad to be in a nightgown by the end of the night LOL Thank you so much for stopping by and spending time with us today!

  34. When I was in grade school we had a little play and we even made dress out of cloth sacks, it was alot of fun.

    • Hi Alicia! That sounds like fun! I’ve seen some pretty cloth sacks before but I heard that they started making them pretty because the companies found out people were making dresses from them. I’d have to research that but that’s pretty much what I thought I’d heard. I would have loved to have seen your sack cloth dresses!

  35. When I was a little girl, I had a pilgrim dress, complete with apron & bonnet, that I wore for Halloween one year. I also had an old-fashioned-looking dress when I was young that I wore in a Thanksgiving skit at our Christian School. One year for a Thanksgiving skit, I was an Indian, complete with a burlap dress, long braids, & a feathered headdress.

    • Hi Lori, That burlap dress sounds itchy! I’m so glad you survived through having to wear that one. I love the apron and bonnet look and how fun that you were able to wear it in the Thanksgiving skit. Thank you so much for sharing and hanging out with us today!

  36. My mom made me a poodle skirt when I was in elementary school for a school performance I believe. I still have as a keepsake. When my daughters were in elementary school, they had an early 1800s or 1900s day(I can’t remember now). Anyway, my mom took the dress that she wore to her prom and altered it for them, shortened it and with the leftovers made a bonnet. They were a couple years apart so they both wore it when they were in that grade.

    • What a special memory for you and your girls that your mom altered her prom dress for their costumes! I love that. Well, that’s a grandma’s love. I’m so glad you have your keepsake too. Thank you so much for sharing and being here with us today!

  37. I love historical times, but have never worn historical clothing. I prefer wearing clothes for the weather.

    • Hi Karijean, I think there’s wisdom wearing clothes for the weather. I used to live in Tucson and you would not survive the afternoon if not appropriately dressed for the weather there! I love historical times, too, western stories are my favorite, but I also enjoy Regency and Victorian and Medieval. Thank you for sharing today!

  38. Great post.
    My sister and I have a bonnet our memaw wore. I think of her every time I look at it.
    Many years ago, I sewed a long pioneer-type dress for my sister. I also sewed myself one. We enjoyed wearing them.
    Blessings.

    • Hi Tina, what precious memories in those bonnets from your grandma’s life. I’m so glad you have those keepsakes. I love that you sewed your own pioneer type dress for yourself and your sister. I bet that is a treasure to her. Thank you so much for sharing your memories and for stopping by today! Have a wonderful weekend!

    • Hi Cherierj, I hope you get to someday too. I would love to wear it for a night or a weekend, like at a historical ball or retreat for readers and writers (they have one in San Bernardino, CA often ant a beautiful hotel there). I am glad, however, that I don’t have to live in all those layers of clothes. Lol! Thank you for visiting with us today!

  40. Yes. Mom made me wear Easter Bonnets when I was just a kid but think it would be fun to wear the clothing while learning about them

  41. I’ve never worn or purchased vintage clothing but I think I would have had fun dressing up in something Laura or Mary wore on Little House on the Prairie. Thanks for the chance to win a prize.

    • Hi Vickie, I was in Jr high or high school when the show aired and I just loved those dresses. Not the shoes so much, but at that age, I didn’t understand how they needed shoes like that. I would love to dress up like that, but I’m thankful I don’t have to wear that everyday. Still, very cute dresses and aprons. Seems like Mary and Laura always had those aprons on, no matter what. Thanks for stopping by and hope your weekend is going great.

  42. Actually, yes. In the 70’s at the height of Little House on the Prarire, my Mom was able to find a bonnet like the one shown above. I do not remember if I had a dress to match or not. Also in the 70’s, we were taught to square dance. We danced for an audience. I had a poodle skirt that was black and white. Thank you so much for being here today. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.

    • Hi Debbie, thank you so much for stopping by too. I always enjoy my time here with you all. I love that you had a bonnet like the one pictured above. I do remember having to learn to square dance in grade school, but didn’t care for it much. I would have enjoyed it more in high school though. I hope your weekend is restful and fun!

  43. Several years ago, there was a program for children called Liberty Vacation School and it’s purpose was to educate kids about our history and the various factors that shaped this country. Included in it was a play that told of when Boston was nearly under siege by the French and how it was saved. I was part of that, so made a dress to wear, along with my shawl and a cap like was worn around the house during the Revolutionary Era. Since, my church, on occasion, has hosted an “old-fashioned Thanksgiving” and we have dressed in costumes. I also used to ride side-saddle in the local parade and had an authentic 1890’s era riding habit that I wore.

    • Ginni, that sounds like so much fun. I love that you had an authentic 1890s era riding habit too. Was that passed down through the family or did you acquire it from a purchase? Would be so neat either way. Love that your church has and old-fashioned Thanksgiving too. What a great time that would be. Is it a potluck with foods of the time and contemporary dishes too? Thank you so much for sharing these great experiences with us.

  44. I love dressing in clothing from other eras and cultures. I’ve made American revolutionary era dresses for my daughters and a variety of prairie style dresses with aprons for them and myself. I volunteered at historic sites or events and needed the clothing for that. I have done one medieval dress and worn it for a afterschool program I did at the library as the children’s librarian. I have Native American regalia that I made for myself and our daughter when she was a fancy shawl dancer. I also did ribbon shirts for my husband and son, plus the jewelry for us all. When I was in the Peace Corps, I did what the other teachers did and found myself in their choir and dance group that performed at village events. I have a full line of native dress that we danced in reflecting the different regional styles. I have patterns for many more historical era outfits, but not much time to sew and no place to wear them right now. Hopefully, that will change soon.

    • Wow, Patricia, that all sounds so very amazing! I had to look up fancy shawl dancer to see what that was. I bet that’s a beautiful dance. I love that you were a children’s librarian and even dressed for it. Do you have a favorite historical outfit you enjoyed wearing? I’m going to also look up the ribbon shirts, as that is new to me. Thank you very much for all you shared, I enjoyed your comment very much! Have a great weekend.

      • Ribbon shirts are what the Native American men sometimes wear. My husband also has leather leggings, but I didn’t make those. I enjoy the clothing of the early settlers best. it is comfortable and easy to work in which was a necessity for them. The Native American dress is also comfortable no matter which tribe style it is. Too many other period styles are more fitted than I like for extended wear and work.

    • Thank you so much for that info, Patricia! I’ve never been able to visit any Native American events and ribbon shirts are new to me when you mentioned them. I love learning about them and I agree that there are some very fitted outfits from other periods that would not be comfortable. When I was younger, I would’ve loved to have tried them out but at my age (late 50s), I’m happier in comfortable clothing. Have a great week and Thank you for teaching me something I had no idea about! I love it!

  45. I would like to wear something old like that. It’s so very interesting. If I was a good at sewing I’m might try making something. Have you follow the woman that dress in historical dresses from 1800s to the 1950s, they make the clothing from hand and the wear them every day. Its so.fascinating to watch and learn so much about fashion throughout time. Thanks for sharing tidbit on fashion. Enjoyed it

    • Hi Sandy, I do follow a lady on YouTube, but I don’t remember her name offhand, and she dresses in prairie type dresses but I know that’s not the era of her dress. She’s one of the slow-living YouTubers. Sometimes, it’s very relaxing to watch. I’ll try to find the lady you mentioned because it sounds very interesting. I am going to try making the poke bonnet and the full apron for myself…someday… lol. Thank you so much for spending time with us today!

  46. In 5th grade we studied Colonial America (Social Studies) and had a Pilgrim feast right before Thanksgiving. We were encouraged to dress in period costumes. My mom helped me fabricate a long gathered skirt in a solid color which I think I wore with one of my own long sleeved, buttoned blouses.

    Does anyone else remember the craze for Laura Ashley dresses in the 1970’s?

    • Hi Mary, I do remember the Laura Ashley dresses craze. Love that your mom helped you fashion a period costume for the Pilgrim feast. How fun that must have been! I don’t remember ever wearing a costume in school until I was in high school in drama classes and we wore hoop skirts for a Pirates of Penzance play with put on for the school and parents. Thank you so much for sharing and spending time with us today!

  47. Replica Native American dress out of cotton decorated with fringe and shells…long gone from a reenactment Rendezvous in the 1980s…

    • Hi Kate, that sounds like a lot of fun and a very neat replica dress. The outfit may be long gone but I hope you have wonderful memories of the event and folks that were there. Thank you for sharing and hope your weekend is going wonderfully.

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