No, I Am NOT Hot in My Historical Clothing

I get asked all the time whether I am hot wearing historical fashion.
The short answer is no, not really. But in order to wear historical clothing in the heat and stay cool, planning and preparation need to be taken into account.
All throughout history people have survived, and even thrived, wearing these clothes in hot conditions, so it is completely possible for us 21st-century folks to as well. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that it is a myth that all people throughout history must have suffered during the summer months.
This video goes through a brief overview of my experience wearing historical clothing in hot weather, along with how you can stay cool, too, wearing historical fashion in hot conditions.
Do you have any additional tips on how you stay cool in the warmer months wearing historical clothing? Be sure to let us all know in the comments down below.
Thank you so much for watching!
Yours, etc.
V. Birchwood
Social Media:
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Due to character limitations, all sources for images can be found here:
www.vbirchwood.com/sources/i-...
Time Stamps:
0:00 Introduction
1:55 Choose Your Fabrics Wisely (Why Linen & Wool Are Best)
4:54 Cover as Much of Your Skin as Possible
5:58 Use Accessories to Your Advantage
6:44 Plan Your Garments in Advance in Preparation for Summer
7:44 Focusing on Footwear & Stockings
8:24 Decide What You Want to Do About Your Underwear
9:10 Stay Hydrated
9:29 Final Thoughts & End Screen
#historicalfashion #historicalmyths

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you everyone for watching! Due to the ocean waves in the background, the sound on this video is of poorer quality than usual, so please use subtitles if need be for clarity. What other tips do you have for staying cool in hot weather whilst wearing historical clothes?

[@sixstringedthing]

The ocean waves add a perfect sense of a day at the seaside, as would have been most suitable for those of appropriate means to cool off during a passing heatwave. Your production values remain as excellent as always. :) As a gentleman, I might remove a layer or two and get right down to shirtsleeves. A lady probably doesn't have such freedom. :(

[@VBirchwood]

@@sixstringedthing Ahh! I wrote a reply earlier to this but it didn’t post for some reason. Thank you very much! It would be a little odd I suppose if this video didn’t have the sound of waves in the back 😅I definitely do think men could probably better get away with wearing fewer layers historically. It sucks that women likely couldn’t, as I wish all genders could’ve just worn what they wanted, but alas, that’s history. I’m glad many have far more freedom of dress now and don’t just have to do what’s “appropriate” 😊

[@user-zp7ut9tl6z]

Привет из России ты красавица!!! 🇧🇾🇷🇺😍😍😍👍

[@junekaplan165]

Sometimes when its hot and I'm working in my garden, I'll resort to just wearing my linen shift, stays, and skirt with no bodice on. I've seen a bunch of artwork where this is depicted among working class women. Its quite a look and it helps keep me a bit cooler, especially when there is a breeze against my bare arms

[@VBirchwood]

Great idea! I've seen this done a lot in haymaking portraits or images of haymaking times, when all the working class women would gather and of course would be sweating a lot in labourious conditions. So it's brilliant to mimic the same and just work in your stays etc. 😊

[@IIVVBlues]

From a male's perspective, layering is the secret to staying cool. Natural fabric are indeed the best. Next to your skin you need a material that wicks away moisture. The next layer like a drop shoulder shirt should be loose fitting. The waistcoat also should not be tight but rather loose fitting. By keep air spaces between layers, you actually insulate yourself from the outside heat. Perspiring cools down the airspace next to it. If not insulated, the cooling effect is dissipated immediately to the surrounding environment and your skin is quickly heated to whatever the outside temperature. This is why, at 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, I am cooler that the T-shirted tourist asking me if my attire isn't overly hot to wear. He feels the full effect of the sun with no insulation. I on the other hand, have both the shade effect of of my clothing and the insulated cooling effect of the evaporated perspiration in the air space trapped between the layers of my clothing. I do 1850s living history in the gold country of California where summer mid-day temperatures often exceed 100 degrees.

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks for the tips for all those who like to wear masculine clothing!

[@hopenield8234]

Thanks for the point about insulation - reminded me that a thermos keeps liquids cool as well as hot.

[@merindymorgenson3184]

I have found skirts to be particularly nice in hot weather, as the breeze that can shift under the skirt provides some relief from the heat, while the protection from the sun helps decrease how hot one gets to begin with. Since almost all historical dress includes skirts, that can be a start right there.

[@VBirchwood]

Agreed! Long skirts are a brilliant way to help manage the heat.

[@anieth]

Linen is it. I live in the western US where temps all summer are often 40c(over 100) and everything is suffocating except linen. I'm also in the burn, peel, and freckle cancer club, so I use a parasol all summer because I don't drive (walk about 3 miles a day) and sunscreen is a joke. I'm just trying now to make bras out of linen.

[@hf3023]

Why had I never thought of linen bras? Seems so obvious, thanks for that and good luck 😊

[@VBirchwood]

This is all super interesting to hear, thanks for sharing your experience A. R.! And linen bras is genius for bra-wearers 😊

[@jaehaywardkent]

i love the idea of using a parasol but still haven’t been motivated to get one,,, perhaps this is my sign!

[@VBirchwood]

psssst. Get a parasol.

[@happyjellycatsquid]

Can you keep updated on the linen bra thing ? I feel like the fabric would be too thin to construct proper, well supporting bras but I’m always curious !

[@LiljaHusmo]

Great suggestions! I agree with linen being a life saver! I wore a full 1766 costume (including a quilted petticoat because apparently I hate myself) for an event the other day when it was 27 degrees in Edinburgh, and wearing a linen shift helped sooo much! I did unfortunately wear my silk taffeta gown (which was quite warm but not awful) I got so many "are you not hot????!" questions and I was like "probably only a little more than you" 😂 Also the beach waves and view is just soooo *chefs kiss* impeccable vibes, I want to go to the ocean now!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you, Lilja! It's interesting that this seems to ALWAYS be the first question anyone asks haha. Wow, quilted petticoat and all silk, that was brave. I'm glad you like the oceanic setting. Defintiely try to get to the sea as soon as possible, it'll be worth it 😊

[@LiljaHusmo]

@@VBirchwood Yeah I really did not think that through properly! My brain just went "pretty silk hehehehe" Will hopefully be able to take some days off soon to go to the seaside ❤️

[@VBirchwood]

@@LiljaHusmo Lol, why does the brain LOVE to do that though? It's like we are all Ravens attracted to shiny or pretty things 😂 I hope you enjoy it! And also the cooler weather that's meant to come soon 😊

[@LiljaHusmo]

@@VBirchwood hahaha yeah it's just like that! Thank you! 😊

[@mirabellegoldapfel6256]

Even though winter is coming, I have one tip to stay cool in historics garments- make it wet before you sweat. When the sun burns down, the cool evaporation is going to keep you cool as good as an AC. For example I wet a headscarf (or my hair) and put it on under my straw hat for gardening. I wet the leg part of my stockings to work like a fever calf wrap. A light damp cotton shoulder wrap protects from the sun and gives out coolness. If its really unbearable dry and hot, I pour water in the back and the front of my chemise. Or if I want to wear armour and go fighting, I wet the inside of the textile armour, the gambeson throroughly. However, these should only be done if you are outside, when the sun and wind can dry quick enough to make the evaporation quick enough. If you are inside, you'd probably feel sticky. And if its humid heat... I dunno. One can always make a reverse hot water bottle- freeze some water bottles or coolpacks and carry them around in in small coolpack, wrapped in pretty handkerchiefs to cuddle with the cool. Great while traveling. Or stick into the corset. Tried and tested :)

[@VBirchwood]

All great tips! Thanks for them 😊 for half the world as well, summer is nearer so these could prove to be very beneficial.

[@distaff2935]

Linen! I live in a climate that gets very hot in the summer. Spandex jeans and leggings are the norm with women here. I prefer a breezy long skirt with linen shift, half-slip, and blouse.

[@sixstringedthing]

That tricorne is impressive! Tips to beat the heat... wear more hats! :D

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks sixstringedthing! Agreed, hats are essential 😊

[@sixstringedthing]

@@VBirchwood or simply fan oneself with a giant peacock feather 🙂

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha now THAT would gather some looks

[@killamoosdraree730]

Linen is by far the best for staying cool because of it's moisture wicking properties. If it's breezy enough outside, cotton can work though it's not so much moisture wicking as it is absorbing so I often feel sweaty when I wear it. Silk Taffeta is good to block some wind because it doesn't breathe very well. Wool and cashmere are so insulating that they will perform well in heat and cold as long as you keep in mind that thicker wools are meant to keep you warm and stick to finer wools for the heat. Interesting to note that wool will still keep you warm even when it's wet, so it will perform well in rain. I always keep my eyes open for knit linens because they are sooo very comfortable to wear against my skin year round. Loose-fitting clothing is often going to keep you both warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer as well due to insulating factors. A long, full skirt can actually provide a bit of shade for your legs to be in plus allow the breeze to cool you. In the same way, a long full skirt with several petticoats beneath it will keep you far warmer in the winter than any modern tight fitting pants could. When it's extremely cold out, I put on silk stockings because they are incredibly warm. My experience is that linen and wool are the true winners with cotton and silk being useful only when the weather permits. Always carry a parasol or umbrella to block the sun and keep a gauzy scarf handy that you can dampen and wrap around your neck.

[@VBirchwood]

I agree with these points as they’ve all worked in my experience too. Thanks 😊

[@girlwithoutpearlearring]

I just wore my selfmade pair of stays for a longer period of time (10 hrs) for the first time. And the first thing my mum asked was: "Are you not hot in that?" And I told her: "No, I'm *not* hot" and had to keep myself from rolling my eyes because this such a frequent question floating around the historical costuming community and I'm already tired of it... I sould probably learn to be more patient... Also, I love how the sun slowly sets during the video. Wonderful ambience :-)

[@VBirchwood]

Well done for completing the stays! I'm sure they're beautiful 😊 I do agree, it is a SUPER common question, and one that can get incredibly exhausting to answer all the time. The way I see it though, is that if someone has no experience with something, then their perception of it will be only what they know and are familiar with. So, if someone only has experience wearing contemporary fibres and materials, then they wouldn't know the experience of wearing historical ones. That thought keeps me patient some how 😂 Thank you!! The timing of shooting was really lucky, since the sun can't be controlled hahaha.

[@UNknown-sd3ki]

"Survive" Idk why, but I just had to chuckle at that.

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha had to be a little melodramatic 😂

[@katherinemorelle7115]

I live in subtropical Australia. It gets hot here. Very hot. And very humid, because coastal Queensland. Unfortunately, I can’t often afford actual linen. It would be my number one choice, but as I can’t, I do wear a lot of homespun cotton, which is tightly woven enough to not be see through, but loosely woven enough to still be cool. That’s what I use for my shifts, petticoats, corset covers, and even a blouse or two. I’m much less hot since I gave up wearing polyester, which I am convinced is the devil. Because wrapping yourself in plastic when it’s almost 40 C and 80% humidity is not a great idea. Also, having swishy skirts allows for movement of air around my lower legs. I also wear silk stockings in summer. As long as they aren’t in direct sunlight (which they never are, because I wear long skirts) they’re really awesome insulators, keeping my lower legs cool. I also go for long, billowy sleeves. I try to avoid fabric being tight against my skin as much as possible, so floaty sleeves keep the sun off, and don’t transfer the heat of the sun directly to my skin as they would if they were in constant contact. Also, I use umbrellas or hats when out in the sun, and I do have on my list a really lovely UPF50 parasol from Sunbella, to give maximum sun protection. My usual answer to “aren’t you hot in that?” Is “cooler than you are in your polyester t shirt, most likely”.

[@VBirchwood]

Ooooo the loosely woven homespun cotton sounds amazing! I'm sure too it has a similar quality to linen due to the weave. Poly really is the worst in the heat. I understand too that perhaps maybe some people can only afford poly which is totally understandable, but it really does make it so challenging to withstand balmy weather. Silk stocks are amazing in the heat, I agree! I'll have to check out that parasol you mention, it sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this matter!

[@katherinemorelle7115]

@@VBirchwood I was quite lucky to find a nice homespun cotton for $6/m. And even though I’m poor, I’d rather go without fabric and save up than buy polyester- but that would be very different if I were making costumes. I’d be more than happy to use poly to make a costume that is only for wearing for a couple of hours every now and then. But never for my actual wardrobe. It’s just far too uncomfortable.

[@VBirchwood]

I totally agree! It’s very different to make historical clothing for day to day wear than it is for a one-time event.

[@jaehaywardkent]

this was so helpful! this summer is my first one wearing somewhat historically inspired clothing (usually at least a few days a week) and i’ve found that wearing white cotton shirts and flowing lightweight- but still full length- skirts has done wonders in keeping me cool and keeping my skin protected! it’s honestly common sense but obviously not exactly taught in today’s english/american culture. i can’t wait for coming years when hopefully my summer wardrobe will be increasingly decked out in practical historical wear☺️❣️

[@VBirchwood]

I’m so happy to hear it was so helpful!! I can’t wait to see your future wardrobe! 😊

[@hf3023]

Just being sold on linen more, I so wish my local fabric store had more than upholstery linen! I also always forgot about wool and it's cooling. Thank you so much for the mentioning it. The atmosphere is so wonderful as well, keep up the amazing work

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much H F! I hope you manage to find some nice linen soon 😊

[@hf3023]

@@VBirchwood Thank you! Excited to see you keep growing 😊

[@VBirchwood]

@@hf3023 Thank you! it's been really beautiful watching it happen so far, and people's comments are truly lovely 😊

[@nospoonfulofmayonnaiseforme]

i live in Australia and while it's actually pretty cold most of the time, the heat makes wearing anything so uncomfortable i would love to wear linen but it is ridiculously expensive. like $35-45/metre, almost as much as silk. cotton is way more accessible. but all of the light, flowy cottons are so see-through i'd need more layers anyways!! I hate bras soooo much too, especially in the heat, but i am not at all comfortable with my nipples showing (i'm very flat chested, like an A cup btw)

[@kpettit2144]

I do wilderness SAR. In the summer (90-100+ F), we have quite a few heat related rescues. Vast majority of them are women wearing tight, compressed plastic clothing (aka modern ‘exercise’ clothes). The geographic location has little shade, and a lot of granite which soaks up heat. Essentially, heat bearing above, injected below, wrapped in‘plastic’. I truly wish society was more proactive in teaching the importance of proper fabrics in various elements. It could literally save your life.

[@VBirchwood]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing. It really does need to be something taught. I think it’d all help us connect deeper too with the clothing we wear which could make a big impact potentially on clothing’s impact on the environment.

[@irishrx80]

I always enjoy your videos. Thanks for making great content!!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much, Gumdrop! 😊

[@edi9892]

Some personal experiences about dealing with heat: 1) Speaking about natural fibers: I can wear a thin leather coat in summer, but I'd die in synthetic fiber! This extends to baseball caps. I'll sweat in them like crazy, much more than a fedora made of natural fiber (though that one is a B too in summer and I don't know how Australians do it, LOL). I've made one experience that really hammered that point home that modern clothes are utter garbage. I was on two hikes, both in similar conditions. Both times, I would freeze in the shadow and the wind would give me chills, but I'd sweat walking uphill in the sun. In order to deal with freezing inside forests (especially when I'm already sweaty from before), I carried the next time a shemagh with me (a square piece of cotton that can be used as a scarf). This time, it got even warmer in the sun and I had to put away my soaked cap. I used the shemagh as a towel but quickly noticed that I wasn't feeling comfortable without something on my head, as the sun was pretty strong. I thus thought F-it and wrapped the shemagh around my head like a Turban (no idea how it should be done, I just improvised). Anyway, I suddenly stopped sweating, and my head felt cool again, but even in the shadow and with a cold wind, I wasn't getting cold. I thus decided that at least for hikes, I'll do some cultural appropriation... 2) speaking of cuts: If it was socially acceptable, I'd run around in summer with a renaissance shirt and some baggy trousers. Seriously, the best thing you can do is cover yourself in a wide piece of linen! The wider it is, the more it moves trapped air inside you and pushes it out. This effect is particularly strong if you got a wide cut at the neck and extra wide sleeves. Having a cut under the armpit would make it even better. You can quickly test it when you put on a coat when it's too warm for it. Then, you just carry it like a cloak by tying the sleeves around your neck. It will instantly get cooler! Cloaks existed for such a long time, not just because of the lack of sewing machines, but because they allow quick ventilating of your body and adjust coverage. I bet that it translates to skirts as well, as long as they are wide and even more so if they got a slit. 3) I cannot quite confirm it, but I think that you're less likely to get burnt skin without suncream when most of your body is covered in cloth. This seems to include the exposed skin! My theory is that the body has better chances of repairing cell damage when only a small part of your body is exposed to the irradiation directly. If you smear yourself in suncream and then run around all day naked, thinking that you're protected, rather than using clothes and shade, then you'll get a horrible sunburn. Simply because the protection wears off and you're reckless... Then your entire body has to deal with cell damage everywhere and gets overburdened resulting in large patches of burns... PS: ancient people did know suncream. The oldest version is arguably even used by some animals: mud.

[@jillstrickland9336]

You are such a doll. I love all your videos!

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you, Jill! 😊

[@chantelmcskimming6633]

Thank you! What a peaceful and restful video! Linen is divine 😊

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you so much! Linen truly is 😊

[@Sputterbugz]

i love linen, i didnt know how much i liked it till i had a linen chemise

[@ceruleanskies001]

This channel is criminally under on subscribers, says the brand new subscriber. I didn't know about lightweight wool so thanks!

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks so much Chele! That’s a massive compliment 😊 Glad the lightweight wool tip could help.

[@vewok]

This was great! I never really thought about how exposed skin causes more dehydration. Where do you find hats? I have been looking for ages and can't find anything other than cheap costume hats which are meant to be worn once and aren't historically accurate.

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you!! Hats-wise, I usually make my own or will sometimes buy one off of another dressmaker (in this case I suppose they’d become a milliner haha). Boater hats are really easy to find straw bases for on eBay. If you just type in boater hat, there are tons of options that you can adjust and make more historical or ornate and decorated. Depending on the country you’re in, many historical sewing supplies providers will also offer hat bases that can be built upon. I’m about to make a bonnet for instance, which I got from one of those suppliers (Nehelenia patterns for Europe. But if you’re in the US I recommend Burnley & Trowbridge).

[@vewok]

@@VBirchwood Thanks!

[@homeiswonderland]

Thank you so much for this.

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks for watching!

[@katwitanruna]

I use as much linen as possible especially since I live in the Southern USA. I once did a test when I was working TnRF. Since I always wore a different outfit each day of the month run I tried using a cotton, a silk, and a linen chemise to test and see which did best in the field. The days would have both cool and hot hours with occasional rain. In order; linen did. best in all weather conditions, silk did best in the cooler weather, and cotton was the worst for both temperature ranges. After that, I began shifting my clothing over to linen and silk.

[@VBirchwood]

What a fascinating result! Thanks for sharing it. I've never tested it like you, but have just tested it through life experience with wearing these clothes daily, and have had similar results. It's interesting though that so many Victorian garments in particular are made with cotton, when it really is not as good as linen in hot conditions for instance. I wonder why this is.

[@katwitanruna]

@@VBirchwood I think part of it has to do with it becoming more readily available. I seem to recall hearing or reading that somewhere but alas, all my costuming books are in storage. 😭

[@VBirchwood]

Yeah! I’ve read about that as well, but I do wonder why then it was suddenly preferred over linen for upper classes when linen was readily available as well.

[@katwitanruna]

@@VBirchwood I just ran across this lovely article. www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Cotton-Industry/

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you 😊

[@ericalarochelle3779]

Hats are fantastic in both sunny and rainy weather! I wear glasses and it is amazing how the slightest sprinkle of rain obscures your vision and prevents the appreciation of working in the rain that I now have. Even in modern clothing, I find natural fibers more comfortable than even the clothing advertised as engineered for heat or cold weather use. Thanks for including a mention of the Bedouin, I have been meaning to look into their traditional dress further and hearing it here served as a useful reminder.

[@VBirchwood]

I wear glasses every day off camera (I'm very nearsighted) so I can definitely understand this! It's very frustrating when they get tiny droplets all over them. Yes, the dress of the Bedouin is so fascinating and I think we can learn a lot from them and their practices. Thanks for your comment 😊

[@guzron4]

Only V. Birchwood can by cool and hot at the same time 😄

[@jackhamlett68]

I wear homemade 19th century/Amish clothes every single day. I have done this for 16 years straight now except for several times when I have worn 18th century clothes when portraying ministers such as George Whitefield and John Wesley. Jack

[@sabrinakamuf5628]

thanks for the tip about using linen to make a shift. I am new to wearing historical clothing.

[@VBirchwood]

Ah amazing! Welcome to the little community 😊If you have a choice, I would definitely recommend all linen undergarments to begin with. They are the most versatile and comfortable in both cold and hot weather.

[@sabrinakamuf5628]

@@VBirchwood that will be good because I live in a state that has hot humid summer

[@VBirchwood]

Linen is definitely essential then!

[@patim7902]

Welcome to the beginner club! :)

[@LandonCahow]

A while back I was heavily involved in American Civil War re-enacting, I can attest to the wearing of cotton and wool uniforms, in some of the most severe heat in both Florida, and even worse (perhaps surprising to some), the Potomac Valley of Virginia in August. Definitely some intense, life-threatening heat at times but, a combination of sun protection, as well as just common sense hydration, we were able to survive quite well in the heat of multiple battles, wearing wool, cotton, and linen with minimal victims to heat stroke, unlike the more "scantly clad" onlookers dressed in modern attire.

[@LualaDy]

for the hottest days I have a thrifted 80's cotton dress. It's a very thick cotton, honestly looks like kitchen towel fabric, but it is very loose, and I only keep it in place with a fabric belt. It covers my shoulders, half my arms, and goes down to mid calf. extremelly breezy and comfortable. and mandatory boater hat, of course ^^ gathers compliments from all the old ladies at the market hehe

[@VBirchwood]

Probably such a cute outfit!! I love when old ladies complement how one looks 😭 it’s so sweet.

[@cutewool4013]

Amazing video once again and also I really appreciate the video being posted on a Thursday but for the other side of the earth

[@VBirchwood]

Thank you Cute Wool! 😊 I’m glad you enjoyed the video!

[@sixstringedthing]

"the other side" all depends on where you're posting from. Cheers from Sydney :)

[@VBirchwood]

@@sixstringedthing I purposefully had to say "for half of the world it's the hottest time of the year" because I was thinking about my lovely Australia and NZ subscribers 😊

[@ladystitch-a-lot]

You can also get a handkerchief or some kind of cloth wet with cool water, wring it out and place it around your neck to help cool you down.

[@VBirchwood]

That's a lovely idea, thanks for sharing it!

[@ladystitch-a-lot]

@@VBirchwood your welcome. it's something I have done to help keep me cool on the hot days in summer when I'm out in the sun and heat.

[@sarahbettany7546]

If you aren't too attached to being as historically accurate as possible I offer this: I use a pretty UV screened parasol, it cost £13.99 from Amazon - it's not brilliantly made (reflected in the price) - but the fabric is backed with a black screen that keeps out most of the light, it even has a significant cooling effect. Due to various medical issues I'm particularly sensitive to direct light and heat these days and it's been a life saver.

[@VBirchwood]

A UV screen parasol is a great idea, thanks for that tip! Perhaps there are even some that can pass as more historybounding somewhere on the market.

[@sarahbettany7546]

@@VBirchwood I’ve seen some made to look like they’re lace covered 😊

[@VBirchwood]

@@sarahbettany7546 that’s a very neat way to tie in historical elements!

[@psiholog.matei.gabriela]

to be fair this is good advice even for modern clothing. a long flowy linen dress will be much more comfortable to wear in the heat that tiny shorts and a crop top.

[@VBirchwood]

Definitely! Linen is just great all around haha

[@myhandsaslanguage]

Where I live, summer temperatures often will go up to 103-110F multiple days in a row. I wear linen as often as I can, always have a hat or umbrella, and sometimes I’ll bring a tiny spray bottle with water to spritz my arms, face, neck, and feet. (We experience a dry heat, so I’m not sure if that would work in a humid area.)

[@VBirchwood]

Thanks for sharing! The spray bottle is definitely the key for dry heat I think! I grew up in the desert so I can empathise 😊

[@annavafeiadou4420]

I am not a historical dressed person but I am very conservative dressed with long sleeves and skirts and high thick socks all times and in summer linen is a must , I live in Greece and in summer we can even reach 40degrees Celsius still in linen and cotton but especially in linen I feel even better than if I wore short clothes cause the sun irritates and dries the skin. I never could dress like that comfortably if not with natural fibres in summer especially linen is a life saver !!!

[@VBirchwood]

Yes!! Linen is the best 😊

[@theglitterballlifestyle675]

Back in VA where I grew up gauzy cotton/linen dresses are always popular in the summer :) (kinda like chemise a la reins dresses but more modern cuts but the same type ofs fabric and cotton lining ) it gets usually around 110-115 F there most the summer

[@VBirchwood]

Hahaha that’s awesome 😊 it’s great to see how many contemporary things can relate back to history in some way or another

[@TimothySeale]

The fact is people didn't have air conditioning. They also didn't have skin cancer like today. Bonnets are also very practical.

[@kinderjiy]

I wear hijab and people often asking if I got hot in this. No, not really. Not at all. In fact my hijab is not as much layers as historical clothing! I really love historical clothing though it’s so elegant!!!

[@VBirchwood]

I can imagine wearing hijab you definitely would get asked this question a lot too! It's great to hear as well that you love historical clothing. Although historical fashion sometimes has a dark past, I think it's important to keep some of the traditions of fashion alive today. Plus it's fun to hand make 😊

[@kinderjiy]

@@VBirchwood Definitely love them even though I’m Asian, sometimes I took inspiration for dresses (but I modernize & simplify to match my daily work and where I live🥲) I kinda have a thing with something from the past though and I prefer to buy something pre owned, the older the better! 😹 because of you, I think I might try to make a hand sewn skirt for a starter! I just want to say I really adore your love for historical fashion, I can only dream for them to make a comeback and people wearing it just like it used to be

[@VBirchwood]

@@kinderjiy that’s beautiful that you are finding your own ways to incorporate more historical elements into your lifestyle! You should definitely make a skirt, it’s a super simple thing to sew and can be extra versatile and customisable. Thank you very much, that’s very kind!

[@iainmc9859]

Interesting perspective but I think I differ on some of the reasoning. I usually see things more from an economic history viewpoint. I'm a great believer that people who had to labour for a living, throughout history, are simply more practical than those that stood by and supervised from a distance. Although it wasn't socially acceptable in polite society to go sans hat and jacket I think those that got their hands dirty did exactly that until a supervisor appeared. Anyone who has done heavy labour in wool, except under very cold conditions, knows that it gets taken off and hung up until you need to put it back on again. Its also pretty useless in wet weather, unless oiled or felted as the air spaces fill up with water, making you cold in the wind and sweaty out of it. It was the most available broadcloth in Europe since early medieval times because of the geographical suitability for rearing sheep and thus one of the cheapest, which is why it was worn but it was quickly superseded when thick hardwearing cotton products became available (Empirical trade). Linen does work better than cotton at keeping you cool simply because it has a courser weave and air can more easily pass through it but is still prone to getting waterlogged, leaving you again either cold or sweaty. It was worn in north western Europe largely because the climate suited the flax plant, again we're back to cost and availability. It also went into decline when it became cheaper to import American cotton leading to the fast fashion of its day. The linen industry is being badly hit by global warming at present which is why there is suddenly an interest in bamboo clothing, it simply takes less water to grow bamboo. It was cheap coal, electricity and then central heating that changed our perspective on items of clothing .... waistcoats, hats, coats, gloves ..... dare I say it ... muffs, just became smaller and lighter until they eventually lost their relevance, especially with the advent of motorcars with roofs on and heating in. Clothing has always been about practicality, availability and cost per wear, rather than making a 'free' choice based on material for the majority of people, although I have an inkling you probably agree in principle I think its worth stating. I'm glad to see a lot of You Tubers interested in clothing now focusing on the less attractive but more important reality of everyday clothing for everyday people. Primary sources as evidence are more difficult to come across as most people wore clothes until they wore out and were then repurposed. Not many 'normal' people had their portrait painted. It wasn't until photography became more commonplace that ordinary people were properly recorded for posterity. Anyway, I'll get off the soap box after whistling 'An Anthem for the Common Man (and Woman)' 🤔

[@VBirchwood]

Yeah I agree with many of your points and I think in principle what we are saying is similar/the same, just worded differently. I appreciate your comment and for sharing your thoughts on the matter 😊

[@uncreatedlogos]

First, looking at the title, i thought you're gonna talk about objectification, then I thought you're gonna talk about climate change, Now I'm happy you're talking about something else entirely.

[@VBirchwood]

Unsubscribe from this channel (if you’re a climate change denier).

[@uncreatedlogos]

I'm not a climate change denier. I'm sorry for the confusion.

[@uncreatedlogos]

@@VBirchwood I'm sorry, I was just surprised how fast the perceived topic changed. That's the only thing I wanted to point out.

[@VBirchwood]

@@uncreatedlogos thank you for the clarification! I’ve had a scary uptick in some really horrific comments on this channel and was even featured on an awful forum where a bunch of people found my channel who probably shouldn’t be on this part of the internet since I’m very pro-sustainability, historical style not historical values, so I’ve been very firm whenever I get comments where I feel like maybe it might be one of those individuals again. So sorry, and I hope you enjoy the content 😊

[@piccalillipit9211]

*ITS 40ºC HERE* and I have to confess - I have stopped wearing my historical clothing - its a very thin pair of cotton shorts and a linen shirt for now. Oh - and a hat - always a hat every day of the year.

[@VBirchwood]

I don’t blame you! Not sure how to master 40 degrees and historical clothes. Perhaps just linen and wool robes. Linen as always though, is essential!

[@sixstringedthing]

I don't think anyone could blame you for breaking with historical tradition and sitting in the car with the aircon blasting... at least for a few minutes. :)

[@catherinejustcatherine1778]

It gets about that here too. So, same.

[@justyna1263]

Yo, when I saw the title idk why but I thought you are going to talk about being hot in the sense of being attractive XD

[@justyna1263]

Umm… obviously xD I wouldn’t say that’s an actual good future video idea tho XD

[@VBirchwood]

My comment reply got deleted and I have no idea why lol, KZbin has been glitching out so much for me. I definitely will NOT be making a video about that, no way lol 😂

[@AeonZhang]

✨👍✨ 💫✨🌟❤️🌟✨💫

[@QueenShireen]

But if you cover most of your skin all the time, how does your body get enough vitamin D [from the sun]??

[@VBirchwood]

Good question! I do so by having a diet rich in omegas, and also by allowing my hands and face to have a small amount of unprotected sun exposure daily, which is what the NHS recommends. We don’t need much daily sun exposure to produce enough vitamin D from the literature and studies I’ve read, in particular if one is careful about their diet and is eating plenty of nutrient-dense foods. Edit: I should clarify that the omegas themselves aren’t the source, but rather fatty fish which also contains omega 😊

[@seriesexplained8009]

I mean, personally I think people are hot in historical clothing... Just not warm

[@VBirchwood]

Hahahaha 🤣

[@folksurvival]

Why did you stop making videos?