Working-class clothing in the 1840s http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50039 yamikuronue I'm looking for historical clothing from the 1840s and 50s. The problem is, that's the middle of the Victorian era, so every place I look is talking about waistcoats and frock-coats and top hats; however, the character I'm designing for is an engineer. Nobody works on a steam engine in a frock-coat and top hat! What did working-class people wear? Specifically either the US or Britain, either would be appropriate for my setting (hired by a British investor, working in the west coast USA, haven't decided country of origin). Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:48:59 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50039?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1126088 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50039?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1126088 Irukazab have you looked up pictures of the era? I am guessing: pants of cheap material, likely wool. A shirt of some kind, likely wool or linen. nothing fancy. A coat. not the fancy kind, but just a jacket. of course, a hat a must. I am thinking that 'My fair Lady' or 'Pygmalion' is a vaguely accurate depiction. You know, the fatehr before he gets the money, or the street people in the beginning. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:02:02 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50039?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1126729 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50039?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1126729 lasalle202 working class californian 1849 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gullgraver_1850_California.jpg railroad workers http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Engine_-_thrown_over_embankment,_showing_manner_of_raising_it_to_the_track._-_NARA_-_525176.tif&page=1 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ACW_RR_handcar.jpg folks in the American South in, 1860 and 1870's http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brownlow-haun-execution-1861.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Georgia_crackers_1873.jpg you might find a treasure trove if you can figure out the right language formulation in Wikimedia some places to start the led me eventually to the above: Category:Railroads of the American Civil War Category:London in the 1840's Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:14:20 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50039?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1127012 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50039?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1127012 lasalle202 more railroad workers 1869 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1869-Golden_Spike.jpg later than your period, but dockworkers (and merchants) 1890s http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boston%27s_fisherman%27s_wharf_jammed_with_merchants_and_dock_workers,_ca._1890_-_NARA_-_513079.tif Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:33:42 -0600 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50039?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1127087 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/reference-desk/threads/50039?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1127087