Colonial Williamsburg Milliner — Local services in Williamsburg

A great place to visit and learn about Colonial America art of fabric use and dressmaking (a.k.a. Milliner’s shop). Colonial Williamsburg is a wonderful place to visit that really brings American history to life. It offers visitors a unique glimpse into 18th-century America with real shops, people dressed in period costumes and buildings maintained as they would be in Colonial times. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, this living history museum spans over 300 acres and includes restored buildings, interactive exhibits, and costumed interpreters. The site is an immersive experience where you can walk along cobblestone streets, interact with blacksmiths, shopkeepers, and even participate in colonial-era activities. I would recommend starting your experience at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center but you can go directly to the city where there is plenty of parking in parking garages along the outer streets. You can see lots of different working places in the city like bookbinders, silversmiths, gunsmiths and Milliners shop. It is located on the North side of the Duke of Gloucester street next to the SIlversmith shop. There are 3 steps up to the entrance which leads to an open room surrounded by tables and counters with examples of various articles of clothing. Behind them are some examples of their beautiful work from hats to dresses. There were several ladies working on various items, answering questions or showing how the shop worked from starting pieces to finished examples. The ladies were very knowledgeable about the colonial apparel and how it was made in that period. It was fascinating and well worth the stop for people...

The Margaret Hunter Milliner Shop we learned is much more than just a clothing maker. The name comes from the word mille which means thousand. They might have literally sold thousands of accessories and fashionable items. They also restyled older clothing with newer trim making them more fashionable. Hoops for dresses and even tea and tobacco may also have been available. A great...

I watched the women work on this dress during December. I had the opportunity to go back to Williamsburg and asked about this dress. They pulled it from storage so I could see it. Part of the reason I enjoy going to...