Pioneer Clothing

Wearing pioneer clothing helps remove us from the everyday world and better relate to the pioneers and what they experienced. We don’t want the trek clothing to be a burden. Most items can be made, borrowed, or found at second-hand stores. Below you will find examples, ideas, pictures, and patterns to help you as you prepare your clothing for Trek..

We encourage you to work together with other youth and leaders in your units to prepare your clothing. This can be a fun weeknight activity for your class or quorum!

Shoes:

Comfort is most important! All trekkers should bring well broken-in shoes. Sturdy running or walking shoes are recommended. Do not wear hiking boots unless you have taken at least 2 months to break them in.

Men’s Clothing:

Shirts: Men’s pioneer shirts were worn loose. Plain colors were common, but stripes or plaids were also used. Light colors will be the coolest. Choose something larger than a regular fit, with LONG sleeves and a button-down front. You may find an old shirt from your grandpa’s or dad’s closet, or maybe even your own closet. To make it look more like a pioneer, remove the collar by cutting with sewing scissors and pick the pocket off with a seam ripper.
Pants: Men’s pioneer pants were also worn loose. Lightweight cotton pants work great. Colors can include browns (especially beige and tan), blue, or gray. Pants should fit loose through the crotch and thigh area to add comfort in walking. As a reminder, no jeans are to be worn.
Hats: Men’s pioneer hats included cowboy hats, straw hats, wide-brimmed low felt hats, or round crowned hats. A hat is strongly encouraged to protect against the sun and sunburn. Baseball hats should not be worn.
Vests & Suspenders (optional): If desired, thrift stores are a great option for finding a vest or suspenders. Vests can also be sewn.

Women’s Clothing:

Skirt & Blouse: Long skirts & blouses were also worn by pioneers. Solid or print fabric skirts can be sewn for a very low price. Blouses of all colors can be found at any second-hand store (or even in your own closet). A simple method of cutting the collar off will make any blouse pioneer style. Experienced trekkers today have found that dresses or skirts should be mid-calf to just above the ankle in length. This helps women avoid tripping over their skirts while pulling the handcarts.
Bike shorts / Bloomers: It is strongly recommended to wear longer bike/spandex shorts or bloomers under skirts or dresses to avoid chafing. Do NOT bring long leggings to wear under a dress as they will keep the heat in and may lead to heat exhaustion.
Aprons: Aprons are encouraged, but not required. The standard pioneer apron was six to twelve inches shorter than the skirt length and was gathered and tied at the waist. Aprons can be made out of a pillowcase or by following available patterns. For trekking today, aprons with large deep pockets are helpful to carry things along the trail.
Bonnets or hats: Women wore bonnets whenever they were outside. They were made of cotton with a deep stiffened brim and back ruffle to protect the neck. They could be white, plain colors, or a print, but they never matched the fabric of the dress. A straw hat or wide-brimmed hat can also be worn. A hat or bonnet is important on trek to give protection from the sun. If windy, bonnets or hats with ties are helpful because they are more secure.

If interested in sewing a dress, skirt, bonnet, or apron, many pattern options can be found online. Here are some resources:

Trek Handbook with Clothing

Free Bonnet Pattern Pattern

https://www.littledoveblog.com/2013/07/pioneer-Trek-pioneer-clothing/