Post by Mystic on Nov 20, 2006 17:18:07 GMT -5
*http://www.normswebworks.net/heather*
I have done some digging of my own about the Cherokee Tear Dress. Some of the information that I have found states that the dress was believed to be the style of dress worn during the era of the Trail of Tears. Other information states that the Tear Dress was made later down the line. Here is some information that I would say does not differ : The Tear Dress is pronounced as "tear" as in the Trail of Tears and "tear" as in torn fabric, and that the style of dress today was patterned after a dress found in a trunk.
First, let us go to the story that most believe. The Tear Dress is believed to be the style of dress worn from the Trail of Tears era. During that time most women did not own scissors due to removals and personal confiscation. So, the material was torn from larger bolt pieces. The style of Tear Dress worn today was patterned after an actual dress stored for many years in a trunk.
Second, the modern story. It says that it is a myth that the Tear Dress was worn during the era of the Trail of Tears. This is for two reasons.
The Cherokee never had a traditional style of clothing that was unique or different from any other tribe in the Southeastern United States. Their clothing, described by the Europeans, was very very primitive and scant, and usually made out of animal hides and furs..
When the Cherokee were able to weave and obtain their own fabrics they made clothing fasioned on the type of clothing they were taught to make, plain and simple. Frontier fashion was nothing like that seen in pictures and paintings of the ladies in Boston, Philadelphia or New York. The second reason that the Tear Dress could not have been worn at the time of the Trail of Tears is because the style is completely wrong for the period.
For more detailed information go to : www.yvwiiusdinvnohii.net/Cherokee/WendellCochran/WCochran0102TearDressFacts.htm
I have done some digging of my own about the Cherokee Tear Dress. Some of the information that I have found states that the dress was believed to be the style of dress worn during the era of the Trail of Tears. Other information states that the Tear Dress was made later down the line. Here is some information that I would say does not differ : The Tear Dress is pronounced as "tear" as in the Trail of Tears and "tear" as in torn fabric, and that the style of dress today was patterned after a dress found in a trunk.
First, let us go to the story that most believe. The Tear Dress is believed to be the style of dress worn from the Trail of Tears era. During that time most women did not own scissors due to removals and personal confiscation. So, the material was torn from larger bolt pieces. The style of Tear Dress worn today was patterned after an actual dress stored for many years in a trunk.
Second, the modern story. It says that it is a myth that the Tear Dress was worn during the era of the Trail of Tears. This is for two reasons.
The Cherokee never had a traditional style of clothing that was unique or different from any other tribe in the Southeastern United States. Their clothing, described by the Europeans, was very very primitive and scant, and usually made out of animal hides and furs..
When the Cherokee were able to weave and obtain their own fabrics they made clothing fasioned on the type of clothing they were taught to make, plain and simple. Frontier fashion was nothing like that seen in pictures and paintings of the ladies in Boston, Philadelphia or New York. The second reason that the Tear Dress could not have been worn at the time of the Trail of Tears is because the style is completely wrong for the period.
For more detailed information go to : www.yvwiiusdinvnohii.net/Cherokee/WendellCochran/WCochran0102TearDressFacts.htm
Heather / Budding Flower
