18th Century Riding Habits: Their Purpose?

I'm not sure I ever explained why I was making these riding habits. They are for an annual festival here on the Wabash River, The Feast of the Hunters' Moon.

At the Feast, there are opening ceremonies at the beginning of the day with a procession, military regiments, bagpiping, and more. (Photos from various past events are here.) My sister Leslie is the director of the Feast and especially during the opening ceremonies, she needs help. So, she asked Lisa and me to be her assistants.

That means that we need period correct clothing - we will be following right behind her in the processions, handing her things, holding onto other things, and maybe even getting a bit of the Hershey Bars she keeps in her pocket for stress relief. (Really. She does.)

An 18th century pocket - worn under the petticoat, women kept scissors, needles, and other things (er, 18th century Hershey Bars?) in them as they worked during the day. I made this one for Lisa using my embroidery machine. (I can hand embroider, but I don't any more due to arthritis in my hands.)

On another historical side note, Leslie wears this green velvet and leather riding habit a lot when she attends historical re-enactments like the Feast. 

It's one of her favorites and was patterned after the one Flora MacDonald wore and is depicted in this painting. (She hid Bonnie Prince Charlie in her home disguised as a woman and then helped him escape to Skye.)

The two I am making won't be as ornate as the Flora MacDonald habit, but they are coming together nicely and I think will be as period correct and authentic as possible.

If I get them done on time.

Tick! Tick! Tick! Tick!