Who do you want to be and who do you want to represent at events? This is a great first question to ask if you are new to building a civilian impression. There are a lot of civilian impression to choose from too - farmer, maid, mother, daughter, refugee, shop keeper, schoolteacher you name it. Let your imagination run wild and do have fun with it. I would recommend that you choose an impression that you can relate to. If you are a student, then maybe represent a student in 1941. Do you clean houses for a living? How about portray a maid in 1942. Being a civilian at events has a lot of possibilities and options.
Normally at events, I portray a civilian that has been pressed into helping the German army as a cook or seamstress. That happened too. As the German army advanced, they made use of the resources around them which included the civilian population. However, that is not the only civilian impression I do. Depending on the event, I chaperone other ladies interested in getting into the hobby and will wear clothes a bit nicer than those worn around a smoky fire. What you are doing at the event, what your role is, will determine what you wear and your impression overall.
If you are at an event where you will be taking on a very active role like cooking or hauling gear, let that determine what you wear. Choose something that can be damaged and get dirty. Wear those clothes that have rips and tears in them - I think damage like that can really make a look just that little bit more authentic. Choose a footwear that is easy to walk in, choose something that suits the work you will do but don't forget that that needs to suit the 1940s mindset too. A modern mindset might be to wear pants for hauling stuff around but in 1940s Germany, women wearing pants was taboo and super rare. So, that means you're in a skirt for the most period look. I think the biggest pitfall reenactors have is using a modern mindset when you really need to put your mind in a 1940s one. Being a cook or a seamstress in camp is one of my favorite roles, I know it's not "cool", but I think it's an important one because it helps make the camp run smoothly and everyone gets fed on time. Sometimes I get some crap on this one because I'm a woman doing . . .woman things like cooking and cleaning. I know a lot of folks don't think it's cool to be cooking and cleaning all weekend for a bunch of guys but it's super period correct and I do enjoy it. My role as a cook and seamstress helps the camp run smoothly and it's a part of what really did happen for many women in WWII.
Another role I have is a chaperone. I get a lot of crap for this one too. Let me explain. I really enjoy being a chaperone and showing other women around an event, taking them shopping, and just looking after them to ensure they have a positive experience at an event. It's not the coolest impression but it's one with a lot of responsibility that has a big impact. For me, it's important that new ladies get off on the right foot in reenacting and I do a lot of that. So where does the crap come from? Other women and reenactors who think it's a dumb impression, that I'm a babysitter or an impression where it's just not "cool". Yeah, it's not the most kick ass impression but like I said already, it's important to make sure future reenactors get off on the right foot and that's kind of what I do. I help girlfriends get into the hobby and feel welcomed. I help other women find their role in the hobby and I think that's pretty cool if I have to say so myself.
When picking a civilian impression, it does not have to be cool to be period correct. I think the most important thing in choosing an impression aside from it being period correct is that you are comfortable with it. If you are not comfortable cooking around an open fire, then don't be a cook. There are numerous other options out there. When you find your impression, pursue it. Nervous because you will be the only one with that impression? Don't be!! If you are passionate about what you do, others will follow. Passion is contagious.
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