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Maid 101


Maidhood 301

The Prairie Maid

By Bobbi Swan

We've had several semesters now learning about maids of yesterday in foreign lands. Each have combined local customs, social mores and climates that imposed the designs of the uniforms these lovely maids wore in service. While the original settlers in America brought costume styles with them for their servants the new world dictated changes to match the environments they encountered.

None were more dramatic than the settlers moving west and many stopping in their journey in the plains where homesteads were claimed as farms and little towns sprouted to support these squatters. Despite the summer heat that many encountered the winters were still cold and bleak with high winds and blowing snow as well as dust. The modesty of the pilgrims was carried west as they made their way in wagons bringing their worldly goods and clothing. Fresh wardrobes would only follow slowly as new farmer's markets were established and goods could be transported from the East. Prices were high and early proceeds from the settlers were meager as they scratched the ground to make their new homes.

The housewife's day was long and tiresome and with no devices for labor saving. Sewing and care of clothing upkeep would mostly be done at night following sunset and with lanterns and candlelight providing the sole source of illumination. Laundry and washing by hand with scrub brush and ribbed washboards filled a full day or more of her hardworking week. Water was well drawn and hard and soaps strong with lye making for rough and red hands. Only a few were privileged to own the primitive iron wringers that attached to wooden buckets as a labor saving device!

The plains maid wore long skirted and sleeved apparel to keep her body protected from the elements as well as modesty. Even those hot summers failed to change her style and the full skirts were filled even fuller with the petticoats she had brought with her in trunks.

She treated her wardrobe with care, determined to make it last as long as possible. In this she protected it with practical aprons that were worn throughout the day. These too were long, covering her to the hems of her skirt and wrapped fully about the waist with long ties that formed the big bows at her back and streamed down in a practical fashion. Often they were bibbed with sensible straps that crossed in back and buttoned to the waist ties. But most times these hardy plains maids wore generous half aprons over their treasured dresses.

Daytime work aprons featured practical earth tone colors and might be exchanged for lacy white pinafores later in the evening or when the occasional guest might stop by for a meal.

Maid service was a rarity in this economy that was struggling to make an existence so practicality was always the watchword. The frilly maid in lace apron and cap -- the black formal and sexy uniform could only be found in the home of the wealthy banker or emporium owner -- or that saloon and cat house of Western lore. We find these more in movies today than could be found in true history of the time!

Besides, the upkeep of these frilly and feminine uniforms was near to impossible. There were no dry cleaners in those days, and Chinese laundries would not follow until the railroads crossed the country to the Pacific.

So, it was a long days hard work that greeted our maid or housewife in the dusty prairie and protection of her modest and voluminous attire required large cover-ups for practicality. The large half aprons, often in browns, would serve on a visit to the store as well as at home and at the farm or ranch. Even little girls routinely wore full smocks or pinafores that covered their dresses and closed in back with a simple button or tie at the top.

I've always loved to see these hardy women on the screen and in historical novels and admired their style of dress as well as rugged personalities

Now, what crossdresser wouldn't want to outfit himself like his heroine? That's what dressing is all about and we can't all be sexy French maids in a bordello! Besides, what fair maiden of the Old West wasn't rescued only to catch her brave and handsome cowboy at the altar?

When I found catalogs years ago with costumes and apparel that perked my interest I became a customer. I loved it and just had to see myself dressed accordingly. It was a lot of fun to wear my new outfits and play in role -- and let the camera lens see me too!

What do you think of that? Care to join me on the prairie?

There's lots of work to be done and I could use some help with the laundry and ironing with my iron hot off the wood burning stove top. I've got an extra apron just for you, a big one!

How about you?

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