By Eric Minetola (March 2026)
The Basics – everyday wear by common folks in the colonies
To properly dress in period clothing, representing a common person from the period around 1770 to 1790, looks quite different from today’s standards. For a common civilian male of this period the following would be everyday wear: shirt, waistcoat(vest) , knee britches, long stockings, leather shoes. On the head would be worn a cocked hat. Linen and wool would be the cloth most worn; cotton would have been least common. The following are some recommended items that are available for reenactors and living historians.
Shirt
Military Uniform Supply
cotton $45
Sampson
Linen/cotton $100 (cotton $62)
South Union mills
Linen/cotton $90 (handsewn $199)
Townsend
Linen Banded collar $140
Linen 18th cen. Workshirt $155
Breeches
Sampson
linen $120 / Wool $135
South Union mills
Linen or wool $169
Crazy Crow
wool #4610-002 $149
Townsend
Linen fall front $305 / Fly front $280
Military Uniform Supply
linen $70 (avoid canvas style cloth)
Waistcoat
Military Uniform supply linen $60 or wool $70
Crazy Crow wool #4618-002 $95
Sampson wool or linen 1770 style $100
Townsend 1770s wool $210 linen $295
(avoid canvas style cloth)
South union mills wool or linen late 18th cent $295
Stockings
Sampson
cotton $14 wool $32
Townsend
cotton $19.40 wool $42 silk $27.50
South Union mills
wool, hand knit $69.95
Shoes- buckled shoes, high trekker
Crazy Crow $99
Military Uniform Supply
$110, Trekker $99
Sampson $130
Townsend $160
Hats
blanks (make your own cocked hat) or formed (cocked) wool felt
Crazy Crow blanks $52-$55
Sampson blank $75 formed $100
Townsend blanks $90-$130 formed $98-$195
How to finish your look:
Depending on what you are looking to portray, the outer layer is where you can finish your display.
If you are looking to represent a common man, farmer, tradesman, or militia soldier the frock coat is your item. This would be the appropriate look for most men in this period.
If you are looking to represent a long hunter, woodsman, or a frontier militia soldier in the field the smock, or hunting shirt is your item.
Townfolk, farmer, laborer:
Coats / Frocks
South Union mills
- 1770 frock coat linen or wool $369
- Workman’s coat linen or wool $229
Townsend
- 18th cent wool coat $450
- Men’s costume coat wool $269
- Woolen short jacket $185
- Linen short jacket $240
Sampson
- Wool or linen 1770 frock $425
Military Uniform Supply
- wool short jacket $79
Long hunter style:
Smock- pull over work/hunting shirt
Crazy Crow cotton #4615-07 $59
Townsend Linen $205
Shirt – open front hunting shirt
Crazy Crow cotton #4615-009 $59
Based on the listing compiled above, the file to the right was created to show the minimum someone might spend to put together a “passable outfit”.
If you are considering purchasing your outfit, please contact Eric Minetola for his insights.