Coat

While on the move in warmer weather, soldiers often slept in, easily-erected canvas tents or they simply slept without cover, under the stars. In the winter, large camps were established with more substantial shelter. How did Civil War soldiers stay warm in the winter? Whatever the building style, Soldiers spent long hours chinking between the […]

Uniforms and clothing worn by Union and Confederate Soldiers During the Civil War The two sides are often referred to by the color of their official uniforms, blue for the Union, gray for the Confederates. Primarily, however, regular U.S. Army troops wore their traditional dark blue trousers, jackets and kepi caps. Did Civil War soldiers […]

Union Mounted Great Coat (1858-1865). Union Cavalry and Mounted Artillery soldiers were issued double-breasted great coats to be worn over their uniforms during the winter. All other soldiers were issued single-breasted great coats. How did Civil War soldiers stay warm in the winter? Whatever the building style, Soldiers spent long hours chinking between the logs […]

While early examples date back to the 1600s, the greatcoat as we know it today was adopted by 19th century militaries including Napoleon’s Grande Armée and the Prussian officer class. When were great coats invented? Thomas Burberry, a 21-year-old draper from Basingstoke, Hampshire, founded his eponymous menswear business in 1856; in 1879, inspired by the […]

The frock coat had humble origins, evolving from practical woollen coats worn for farming and sporting activities in the 18th century. Despite this, the frock coat was slowly accepted as formal day dress by the 1850s. This development relegated the dress coat exclusively to evening full dress. Why do they call a dress a frock? […]

noun. 1mainly British A woman’s or girl’s dress. ‘her new party frock’ ‘As for the little girls, they were allowed to wear different coloured frocks and dresses. ‘ What is a frock in UK? In 18th century Britain and the United States, a frock was an unfitted men’s coat for hunting or other country pursuits, […]

Undergarments and Sleepwear Until the 1890s, men slept in a nightshirt, a long loose fitting dress like garment that could reach to the knees or longer. They could be gathered at the neck with a drawstring or feature a neat collar. A nightcap was worn in cold weather. By the end of the century, pajamas […]

Navy blue is a dark shade of blue that resembles black. The term was used as early as 1813 in reference to the color of the officer uniforms of the British Royal Navy that were a dark blue since 1748. Notes. Overview: Navy Blue Type Blue Composition A dark shade of blue. Complementary Color Light […]

They are killed in a more humane way: sleeping medication is put in their water. ‘Their skins are taken off, the meat is boiled and given to survivors. Wasteless production. ‘But you cannot do the same with sables. Are sables killed for their fur? There are around 70 farms in the country that keep raise […]

(greɪtkoʊt ) also great coat. Word forms: plural greatcoats. countable noun. A greatcoat is a long thick coat that is worn especially as part of a uniform. What is the meaning of greatcoat in English? a long, heavy, warm coat, worn especially by soldiers over their uniform. Why is it called a greatcoat? “large, heavy […]

Skinned Alive When undercover investigators made their way onto Chinese fur farms, they found that many animals are still alive and struggling desperately when workers flip them onto their backs or hang them up by their legs or tails to skin them. Are rabbits skinned alive for fur? Now, a look into three massive rabbit […]

Usually 10 to 12 adult dogs are killed to manufacture each coat; even more if puppy fur is used. One cat fur coat requires the killing of up to 24 felines. Fur-covered figurines may contain the pieces of pelts of several animals, or may just be the pelt of one unlucky victim. How many Dalmatian […]

Although most animals killed for their fur are raised on fur farms, millions of raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, beavers, and other fur-bearing animals are killed every year by trappers. The steel-jaw trap, which the American Veterinary Medical Association calls inhumane, is the most widely used trap. Do animals have to be skinned alive for fur? Are […]

Historically, beavers have been hunted for their fur, meat and castoreum. Castoreum has been used in medicine, perfume and food flavoring, while beaver pelts have been a major driver of the fur trade. How were beavers killed for their fur? The body-gripping traps used to capture and kill beavers cause these sensitive animals immeasurable suffering. […]

Entertainers and waiters also wore fine tuxedos as their uniform. 1920s men’s formal wear kept the traditional top hat and tailcoat as well as adding an option for a dinner jacket, called a Tuxedo coat today. There was also the formal morning suit that was worn to weddings and formal daytime events. What was the […]

So, while wool might not be your top pick for snow-less winters, it’s still one of the best options for those of us that are going to expect some blizzard-like days. “As a fabric, wool has a number of advantages,” reads WiseGeek. “It is naturally water resistant, thanks to the lanolin it contains. Can you […]

It is commonly referred to as just a tailcoat, but amongst tailors (both British and American) and dress historians it is traditionally called a dress coat to differentiate it from other types of tailcoats. What kind of suit has tails? Between the world wars, the tuxedo largely supplanted the tailcoat as standard evening wear and […]

phrase [usu PHR after v] If you do something on the coattails of someone else, you are able to do it because of the other person’s success, and not because of your own efforts. They accused him of riding on the coat-tails of the president. What does pull your coat tail mean? pull (one’s) coattails […]

Yes. If you’re a groom or in the wedding party, you’ll definitely need to wear a tuxedo to a wedding that’s designated black tie. If you’re a guest, you should also wear a tuxedo. However, if the dress code is black tie optional, you also have the option of wearing a dark-colored suit in lieu […]

1930s Fabric and Colors Linen was used for summer suits and dresses, and wool for winter suits and outerwear. Rayon tweed or corduroy was seen in fall/winter dresses as well. For evening gowns, there were silky satin, lace, velvet, and taffeta. What fabrics were used in the 1930’s? Broadcloths, twills, muslins, lawn, batiste, organza, velveteen, […]