I am considering getting a civilian jacket to add to my list of impressions.

I have looked over the different vendors to see what types are offered, but at the same time I have been trying to look at original photos to see what would be the more common jacket or more appropriate coat for my age/size/"occupation"..

I have decided that a paletot would not work as it just wouldn't look right on my frame.  

I was thinking about a sack coat.  But that seems to be a vague term.  Any advice from those out there with a civilian impression?  I would want my coat to be used for a potential civilian impression, maybe an early war recruiting situation or early Confederate impression..

I have a couple of photo books at home that I plan to go through each night once I get my son to bed.  But I am not sure what I should be looking for..

Thanks in advance..

I have a Civilian Sack coat. Works for just about anything.

I just purchased a civilian sack coat to wear at McDowell this year. At my advancing age, I figure this coat is going to get a lot of wear!  

Bill

Who did you get yours from?

Did you pick a style and color or just get what might have been "in stock" or a common style?

Greg,

I picked it up at S&S in Gettysburg. It's brown with two pockets on the front, much like a modern jacket. In fact, other than being much longer in the body, it looks almost exactly like a modern sport coat. I may start wearing it on sales calls!  

The civilian sack I have is not the best but it is used quite a bit.  Mine has two outside pockets on the lower part of the coat--one on the left and the other on the right.  The pockets are large enough a glove can be placed in them and the glove is completely out of sight.  There is slanted smaller pocket higher up on the left side.  An interior pocket is sewn into the lining on the left side.  The color is brown.  Compared to what you guys up North see on a regular basis, winter only flirts with the Mississippi Gulf Coast region.  This civilian sack has become my winter jacket.

A sack coat may be just the thing, depending on the impression--but a good frock might also be a good option, depending on the impression.  

So I guess the main question is: What basic impressions do you need to cover, and what coat would be most typical for a man of those means/occupations?

Quote :

ElizabethStewartClark wrote : A sack coat may be just the thing, depending on the impression--but a good frock might also be a good option, depending on the impression.   So I guess the main question is: What basic impressions do you need to cover, and what coat would be most typical for a man of those means/occupations?

The impression would be someone in their early 30's who might be a foreman or "manager" type person at a mill or factory.  

--Last edited by lhsnj on 2007-04-20 15:58:20 --

I'd say as a foreman or manager of a mill you might get away with either a sack or a frock coat, just depending upon your character's overall social status. And what would you would be doing during the event?

A real nice sack coat however can be a poor character's best dress or a wealthier persons work clothes. So you can probably get more wear out of a sack coat.  Of course if your character has seen the war and has been discharged, you could also possibly get away with wearing a military coat.  

Just my two cents worth,

Linda.  

--Last edited by Linda Trent on 2007-04-24 09:16:58 --

Linda

Thanks for the input.

My main intent for a civilian coat might be for more around an early war type event.  I have just joined and have not been issued a uniform or we have not procured uniforms like the example below.    

"Upon the company being organized, a committee was appointed by the county court to purchase uniforms and blankets. This committee, which was composed, as now recollected, of Captains James D. Johnston and R. F. Watts, acted promptly, and the materials for the uniforms were soon on hand. The ladies of the town and surrounding country went to work in earnest and with energy to make our outfits. Herculean as was the task, they accomplished it in an incredibly short time, and we soon donned our bright new clothes, with nice brass buttons, and began to think ourselves soldiers in fact."  
The Story of a Confederate Boy in the Civil War
By
David E. Johnston of the 7th Virginia Infantry Regiment
Author of "Middle New River Settlements"

I guess I was also looking for a generic (PEC) type coat that would cover me for the most events.

> I guess I was also looking for a generic
> (PEC) type coat that would cover me for
> the most events.

If you're a foreman of a mill then you probably have at least two sets of clothes.  Sunday best (probably a frock coat) and something to work and get dirty in (more than likely a sack coat).  While I'm no scholar of military clothes, I'd say that if *I* were going to be entering the army I'd take my "get dirty clothes."

A sack coat would probably be in most any man's closet regardless of social or economic status (only exception might be an excentric older gentleman 50+), so I'd say it would be the most PEC and would certainly get you through any event, short of attending a fancy dress ball.

Linda

Quote :

Linda Trent wrote : > I guess I was also looking for a generic > (PEC) type coat that would cover me for > the most events. If you're a foreman of a mill then you probably have at least two sets of clothes.  Sunday best (probably a frock coat) and something to work and get dirty in (more than likely a sack coat).  While I'm no scholar of military clothes, I'd say that if *I* were going to be entering the army I'd take my "get dirty clothes." A sack coat would probably be in most any man's closet regardless of social or economic status (only exception might be an excentric older gentleman 50+), so I'd say it would be the most PEC and would certainly get you through any event, short of attending a fancy dress ball. Linda

Linda

Thanks, since I don't plan to attend any dances or balls I should be all set.

I am still in the early stages of putting this together.