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 Linda Charron began her journey to her current business while a
youngster. Her mother taught her the art of being a master
seamstress at the young age of seven. She took to the skill quickly
and had the best dressed dolls in her home town of Phoenix, Arizona.
She even costumed her third grade class play. As a teen, she made
dresses for herself and then began to sell them to earn enough money
to construct her next dress. Her business really took off when her
father built a Civil War canon in his basement. Of course, he had to
go to a Civil War reenactment to fire off his newly constructed
canon, and Linda went with him. She was taken with the period
costumes of the re-enactors and the rest is history.
The dress on the left
is representative of the Victorian age, circa 1885. Check out the
bustle, an affectation imported from France. The dress on the right
is from the romantic era of the 1830’s.
Once Charron created one unique dress from a bygone era, she had to
create another. It occurred to her that there might be other women
who would want something unique to wear, but did not have the time
or talent to create a period dress. Once she began advertising on
the internet, the quality of her dresses became known all over the
world.
Linda Charron creates a historically accurate dress when she
receives a commission. She carefully researches all of the intricate
design details from an era and copies them. Buttons are sewn on the
dress that are from the era, either reproductions or original. Lace
is historically accurate or is original, as are jewels and other
bling that ornament a dress.
Charron scours the internet for sources. The fabric from which the
dress is made is also accurate to the era. Hoops and bustles are in
evidence for her 19th century finery. She also creates period
undergarments that are necessary to fully display the dress. “I
learn something new every day about clothing from past times. I want
to make sure that each dress is historically accurate,” she said.
When she receives a commission, she carefully questions the buyer
about what period the dress will represent, and what sort of
function it will be worn at. This all has a bearing on the style and
colors that will be selected.
She also advises her clients to carefully take their measurements so
that the finished dress will fit perfectly. She has been doing this
long enough to be able to tell when the measurements she receives
are accurate, if they are properly proportioned. Each dress can take
up to six weeks to create.
Because of the careful attention to detail, they can range from the
high three figures to over four figures. “When a woman purchases a
dress from me, she is getting a one-of-a-kind product,” Charron
said.
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Charron’s dresses have won awards at many competitions for period
ball gowns. Her website has been reviewed all over the globe. “My
goal is to suck the oxygen out of a room when a woman walks in
wearing one of my dresses. I want my client and her dress to be the
center of attention,” she said. She always asks her clients to send
photos of them wearing her dress. Women have worn her dresses to
cocktail parties, weddings, period reenactments. Charron counsels
each client about how to wear the dress for the function where it
will appear.
Who buys a Linda Charron original? An actress from Finland, a
photographer from Monaco, a cancer researcher from New York City, a
concert pianist from California, a dairy farmer in Germany, a tour
guide in Alaska, all have a Linda Charron dress in their closet. “I
have friends all over the world now who have purchased my dresses,
but I have only met one of them. I keep in touch with clients over
the internet. People find out about me from my website,” she said.
One of her originals designed for Anne Mosely at the Lincoln
Heritage Museum at Lincoln College graces the cover of a steamy
romance novel about the Wild West. Another is featured in a
television commercial. They have been sent from her studio in
Lincoln all over the world.
The Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society meets monthly on
the third Monday at 6:30 p.m. at their research facility at 114
North Chicago Street in Lincoln. There is always an interesting
presentation from guest speakers. Everyone is welcome to attend.
[Curt Fox]
Frocks of Ages:
www.frocksofages.com
Linda Charron:
frocksofages@aol.com
(217)732-4399
LCGHS: 217-732-3200
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