vest

[rgr44]

I am looking at buying or making a vest and have a question about color and style. I would like a vest for when I wear either federal or confed, can the same vest be used (color, style)? or should i look at a different vest for each? Thanks

Nate Collins

[Tarky]

Nate-- get a dark color like black or dark brown in wool-- get a correctly made vest too! handsewn if possible and based on a period style.-- As a Federal soldier-- your vest was probably gone by late summer 61'. If you Veteranized in 63'-- you could buy one along with a new uniform to show off to folks back home. As a Confederate-depended on your Colonel if wanted to see civilian clothes in the ranks. If thats all you had he would!

Tarky
CSuniforms

[Elaine Kessinger]

Mr. Collins-
A vest/waistcoat was a private purchase item (unless they are intregal to the uniform, as they sometimes are with zoaves), and as such, would run the gamut from fully fashioned, specifically tailored, military style inspired ones of quality, expensive material to cheap ones thrown together in a slop shop by artisans of questionable ability. A vest/waistcoat should be one of the items you consider what your pre-war civilian life was like and allow that to influence your choices.