Fashion that was in vogue in the East was highly desirable to pioneers during the frontier period of the American West. It was also extraordinarily difficult to obtain, often impractical, and sometimes the clothing was just not durable enough for the men and women who were forging new homes for themselves in the West. Full hoopskirts were of little use in a soddy on the prairie, and chaps and spurs were a vital part of the cowboy's equipment. In this book, author Chris Enss examines the fashion that shaped the frontier through short essays; brief clips from letters, magazines, and other period sources; and period illustrations demonstrating the sometimes bizarre, often beautiful, and frequently highly inventive ways of dressing oneself in the Old West. Foreword ix Rob Word Acknowledgments xiii Introduction 1(4) Dressing for a Gold Rush Clothes Make the Man 5(2) Miner's Attire 7(4) Legendary Trendsetter: Elizabeth ``Baby Doe'' Tabor 11(6) Civilized Style in the Wild A Coat for Dale 17(1) Women's Wear 18(13) Legendary Trendsetter: Amelia Bloomer 31(2) Dressing for a Roundup The Genuine Article 33(1) Clothes for the Cowboy 34(9) Legendary Trendsetter: Bat Masterson 43(4) Sons and Daughters of the Trail A Child's Gift 47(3) Children's Fashions 50(8) Legendary Trendsetter: Annie Oakley 58(3) Prairie Styles A Fashionable Encounter 61(4) Clothing for the Homesteader and Emigrant 65(5) Legendary Trendsetter: Oscar Wilde 70(3) A Lasting Effect Remember Me 73(2) Additions to the Overall Look 75(5) Legendary Trendsetter: James Butler Hickok 80(5) All Dressed Up A Look to Die For 85(4) Shiny Accessories and Other Fineries 89(1) Legendary Trendsetter: Lillian Russell 90(7) Under the Clothes Essentials in Intimate Apparel 97(2) Underwear for Men, Women, and Children 99(3) Legendary Trendsetter: Andrew Johnson 102(5) Style in the Ranks Hat in Hand 107(1) Clothing of the Western Soldier 108(4) Legendary Trendsetters: George and Elizabeth Custer 112(5) Borrowed from the Land The Savoir-Faire of Sitting Bull 117(1) Clothing of the Native Americans 118(4) Legendary Trendsetter: Buffalo Bill Cody 122(5) Suggested Reading 127