Historic winter paper dolls from the far north . . .

Native Alaskan paper dolls in their historic parkas dressed for extreme temperatures.
Find more native Alaskan paper dolls in color here. and See authentic indigenous doll
 carved by natives here.

        The native people from the far north wore clothing that was so perfectly adapted to their needs. The principal fur garments of the Eskimo were the parka — sometimes called the artega and trousers. In winter two parkas were worn, one with the fur inside and the hood edged with wolverine, and the other with the fur outside was trimmed with wolf-skin. The frost didn't form on wolverine, so that is was next to the face and troublesome icicles were avoided, while the long hair of the wolf when it blew across the face served to protect the skin from the wind. The parka was made of caribou, or reindeer skin, since it was light and warm and not so valuable in trade as the fox, bear, or marten. The fringe around the bottom is of wolverine. 

       The Eskimo woman must have been a very busy person. She made most of the household utensils, she helped in making the kyak or canoe by sewing together the sealskin covering with a lock-stitch, water-tight seam in which all Eskimo women were skillful. She cared for the whale-oil lamp which warmed the house and cooked the food; and that was an art in itself since it must be kept from smoking. 

       When the igloo was made of ice, the temperature was kept just below freezing or the walls would melt. Of course she must of cooked the food and cared for the children. There were no ready-to-wear shops in the polar country; therefore every article worn by herself or her family was sewn using an ivory needle. She kept the other women of the igloo busy, too; the old ones at chewing the reindeer sinews into long, pliant threads which did not rot in the garment, and the girls at moulding, with their teeth, leather soles for the warm boots or mukluks, which, when completed, fit their feet in a very comfortable way. The black boot soles were made deep enough to hold thick pads of dry grass. The boots and the socks worn under them in the winter were made of brown and white fawn skin taken from the leg parts of the reindeer where the hair is short and strong. Straps held the boot tightly around the ankle. 

       The Eskimo mother did not bother about baby clothes; for, until they were able to run about alone, the little naked babies were carried in the mother's hood next to her skin. 

       The straight Eskimo's hair was black and there was little opportunity for brilliant colors in your paper doll's costuming reflecting that era. Use gray and brown and black, for the furs. But the bead designs may be colored brightly for these historically accurate costumes.

More About Traditional Native Clothing:

• Nanook of the North - Classic Documentary - 1922
• NOVA Hunters of the Seal (1976)
• The Eskimo Family (1959)

When you wore a "Union Suit" to keep warm...

       "Long johns were first introduced into England in the 17th century, but did not become popular as sleepwear until the 18th century.

       It was first used as loungewear but later became popular in Truro, Nova Scotia. In 1898, Myles and his brother John had developed a product called Stanfield's Unshrinkable Underwear for their garment manufacturing company. He and his brother started with non-shrinking cotton underwear and applied for a patent for long johns on December 7, 1915.

       From 1914 to mid-1918, the item of underwear most purchased by various military forces was a garment known as a union suit; it is a one-piece form of underwear covering body and legs and was the prototype of the Chinese qiuyi, the top part, and qiuku, the bottom part. After 1918, countries returned to producing for civilians.

       Demand declined following the spread of central heating and more frequent baths or showers." Wikipedia

Quality Union Suits for Men, Women, and Children.

Coopers Kenosha-Klosed-Krotch, our Athletic Nainsooks for athletic men.

"Keep yourself fit and warm this Winter in Lincoln, unshrinkable superfine quality,
All Wool Underwear."

Color and Cut The Costume of the Philippine Islands

        Both of these paper dolls, man and women, wear traditional costumes from the late 1800s and early 1900s. These fashions have both Spanish and Americans influences.

       "By the late 18th century, the traditional everyday wear of women in the Philippines consisted of two basic pieces of clothing known as the pares ("pair"). This consisted of a saya reaching up to the ankles (usually checkered) and a collar-less baro or camisa (usually plain or striped)."

       When the Americans came, the fashion remained the same for the first five years of the 20th century. But it has started to change and became more modern in contrast to the conservative style of the previous centuries as the Americans started to influence the modern Filipino culture.

       The women then wore the terno, the more modern version of the traje de mestiza. It had bigger sleeves and a narrower floor length skirt with a long train called saya de cola and replaced the full wide skirt reflecting the Edwardian Fashion of the West.

       A notable variant of the barong tagalog during this period was the baro cerrada (literally "closed baro"). Its name is derived from its closed-neck collar. It was made from opaque material (which can be white or darker colors) and was paired with white pants. This style of baro remained popular up until the early 1900s." Wikipedia

The male paper doll above is wearing the modern "classic" barong tagalog.
His hat is a bowler style.

Exploring Filipino Textiles from the Natural History

Museum of Los Angeles County.

Children's Christmas Party Costumes

Costumes from 1914: Mistletoe, Christmas
carol, a Christmas tree and Plum pudding.

The Child at The Christmas Party 

 

       "Every child likes to "dress up" and at Christmastime it will be especially good fun to "make believe" that one is a Christmas candle whom all the other children will want to "puff" out, or a charming little Christmas Carol whose lips have ready a snatch of song. the Christmas Tree will be a little beauty and all the little boys will want to pluck a souvenir.
       The Plum Pudding looks real enough to whet one's appetite, and what party would be complete without  a Snapping Motto? The lively Christmas Greens, Poinsettia and Holly, and the more demure Mistletoe will add to the festive atmosphere.
       The children themselves will enjoy making the miniature trimmings on the Christmas Tree costume. The candy canes are made by winding wire with crepe paper until they are as thick as may be desired. the wire is first bent to form the crook. A narrow strip of red paper is then wound around this, covering only part of the white to make it look like real candy cane. For the beads the paper is cut in pennant shape, and starting at the wide end, is wound around a hatpin. The pointed end is held down with a bit of paste. the hatpin slips out and a tinsel cord is run through, on which the beads hang.
       While these costumes may appear difficult to make they are not really so, and developed at home are comparatively inexpensive. Not only at children's parties, but also at children's Christmas entertainments do these costumes add a pretty realism to the parts the children are to perform. Crepe paper, matboard, wire, paste, a bit of ribbon, etc., are all the materials needed. Each costume is made on a cotton-slip foundation.
       A new effect in the use of crepe paper is now being obtained by fringing it as shown on the Carol costume. This gives a wavy, fluffy look that is very pleasing."

Designs are by Jessie Gillespie, 1914

Children's Christmas party costumes, Left to right: candle, holly, a Christmas cracker and poinsettia.

How girls wore their hair in 1915

        According to the original commentary about the following hair styles, bobbed hair cuts were all the rage in 1915, but some young girls with long locks were somewhat hesitant to cut them off. Hence, the popularity of tying the hair up with all kinds of combs and headbands in order to make the hair only appear shorter. The combs and hair trims below were popular to use along with the Japanese ''geisha rolls" at the back of the neck. By 1920, short haircuts really were more prevalent. 

Combs and fancy hair ribbons from 1910-1920 were very popular.

Summer Aprons From 1915

        Eleven summer apron designs from 1915 sewn from lawn, Swiss, gingham and linen. "The change of fashions in aprons follows noticeably that of our indoor dresses, making them easy and comfortable to wear when occasion requires. Those for general utility purposes practically cover the dress, and are most becoming. They are cut low at the neck. The armholes are long where the waist part extends from front to back, while others have the waist effect only in the front, with suspenders at the back, fastening at the waistline. Down in the right-hand corner we have a festive design for light housework, and they may, in your opinion, have a rival on the opposite side in quite a different design for the same purpose. However, both are good. Small fancy aprons of plain or flowered muslin (right and left) are quite necessary to have on hand for various purposes--when cooking the chafing-dish supper, serving the afternoon tea, or to lend to one's guest who may want to make a fancy dessert, and so on."

Charming drawings of apron fashions by M. E. Musselman.