Re: Friday Night Vittles? 7/11/2025

On 7/19/2025 5:16 PM, Michael Trew wrote:

On 7/18/2025 6:00 PM, Jill McQuown wrote:

Michael was talking about the temperatures in Florida 100 years go.  He needs to look up the type of clothing both men and women wore in 1915 if he wants to talk about hot and uncomfortable attire.

 Earlier, I came across a short video (fewer than 10 minutes) from "This Old House".  It was actually rather informative, about how people in the Victorian era people kept cool before air conditioning:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaL4ab3zUeU

That was a fun video, thanks.  As mentioned up-thread, swamp coolers (essentially ice with a fan blowing across it) don't do much in Southern climates other than make the already humid air a couple of degrees cooler.  I have, on the other hand, worn a hoop skirt to a Civil War reenactment and found it to be quite cool.  The overskirt and petticoat were made of lightweight cotton, as was the corset cover and the blouse and bolero jacket.  Things certainly improved for women in the 1920's when most women stopped wearing corsets and dress style became more loose.  Lighter weight fabrics are mentioned in the video.  I wear mostly cotton or linen clothing year round but I am still thankful every day for air conditioning.  It was 95°F/35°C here today.  Sitting outside would not have been comfortable even if my house had a covered wrap-around porch.
Jill