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CWF Costume Design Center

Costume Design Center
75th Anniversary

Costumes were first worn October 20, 1934, by Colonial Williamsburg hostesses at the Raleigh Tavern for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s visit for the dedication of the Duke of Gloucester Street. These first costumes were deemed so successful that November 5, 1934, all hostesses in the remainder of the exhibition buildings were required to wear costumes.

75th Anniversary Timeline

Explore 75 years of costumed interpretation.
Dressing for the Occasion

by Mary Miley Theobald

CWF Costume Design Center Source List

Resources for the reproduction of historic costume.

Multimedia and related links

Video
75 Years of Costume Design

Colonial Williamsburg marks 75 years of costumed interpretation. November 02, 2009

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Podcasts
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75 Years of Costume Design

Colonial Williamsburg marks 75 years of costumed interpretation in 2009. Costume Design Center Director Brenda Rosseau describes the metamorphosis from 1934. November 2, 2009

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Colonial Costuming

Brenda Rosseau, supervisor of Research and Design at Colonial Williamsburg's costume center, dresses interpreters in the right clothing "from the skin out." May 17, 2005

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Fashion and Function

A corset's engineered strictness defines the shape of the 18th-century woman. Journeywoman Brooke Welborn explains the trend. May 5, 2008

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The Art of the Cut

Translating a man's measurements into suits for all seasons is the task of the skillful tailor, says apprentice Neal Hurst. June 18, 2007

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Clothing Speaks

Clothing says what words do not, in the 18th century as well as the 21st. Textiles and costumes curator Linda Baumgarten explains. January 29, 2007

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Milliner and Mantua Maker

Janea Whitacre has been creating beautiful dresses in the Margaret Hunter Shop for 24 years. August 7, 2006

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Games & Interactive
Costume Design Center 75th Anniversary Timeline

Explore 75 years of costumed interpretation.

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Heads Up

Help the colonists find the proper headpiece to wear.

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Paper Doll Game

Put the clothes on the Paper Doll in the correct order in this game that shows how young girls dressed in the 18th Century.

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