Fashioning Acadians: Clothing in the Atlantic World, 1650–1750

The book "Fashioning Acadians" explores the clothing and fashion of Acadians in Acadia from 1650 to 1750, revealing a distinctive Acadian identity influenced by other regional styles. It uses surviving notions, sewing tools, and accessories as important sources of information about domestic life, manufacturing processes, dress and textile cultures, and the influence of intersecting fashion systems in colonial spaces.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2023
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

The distant past poses a formidable challenge when attempting to ascertain the attire worn by people during that era. The gradual disintegration of natural textiles and materials over time obscures the intricate details of past fashion choices. However, when new findings from archaeological excavations are juxtaposed with documentation about early Acadia, a captivating picture of the society's early fashions emerges.

Fashioning Acadians: A History of Clothesmaking and Dress in Acadia from 1650 to 1750 is a groundbreaking work that delves into the world of clothing and fashion during the Acadian era in what is now Nova Scotia. Authored by Hilary Doda, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of the regional fashions and trends that emerged prior to the tragic deportations of 1755.

Doda's research takes us on a journey through four Acadian settlements, providing a detailed account of mens and womens wardrobes from head to toe. From headdresses and hairstyles to stockings and shoes, along with accessories such as buttons, buckles, and jewelry, the book offers a vivid portrayal of the clothing choices of the Acadians during this period. While Acadians retained many aspects of the fashion systems of France, New France, and New England, their dress evolved and was influenced by other regional styles.

One of the key insights of Fashioning Acadians is Doda's argument for a new methodology for identifying lost or decayed garments. By examining surviving notions, sewing tools, and accessories, the author suggests that these small finds from archaeological sites hold immense value in providing information not only about domestic life but also about manufacturing processes, dress and textile cultures, and the influence of intersecting fashion systems in colonial spaces.

Through her meticulous research, Doda expands our understanding of Acadian lives and their connections to both the Atlantic world of goods and the landscapes of Nova Scotia. Fashioning Acadians sheds light on the social, cultural, and economic aspects of clothing and dress during the Acadian era, offering a rich tapestry of information that contributes to our broader understanding of early North American history.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in fashion, history, and the cultural heritage of Acadia. It provides a valuable contribution to the field of historical studies and offers a fresh perspective on the lives of the Acadians, their relationships with other communities, and their place in the broader context of early North American history.

Weight: 724g
Dimension: 175 x 243 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228018926