Local Woman Dresses In Different War Era Garb To Honor Memorial Day
By Chelsea Lacey-Mabe
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Millions of Americans are busy getting ready for barbecues and packing their bags for the fast-approaching Memorial Day weekend. But Kim LaCroce, KYW Newsradio's traffic manager, of Mauricetown, New Jersey is making sure people in the Delaware Valley aren't forgetting the real meaning behind the holiday--by dressing up for a different war-time era each day of the week.
On Monday Lacroce wore what an "everyday lady" living in the 1770s, during the time of the Revolutionary War, would wear.
Tuesday it was the Civil War. LaCroce admits the hoop-style dress was a little tricky to navigate at her desk but her choice of fashion gave way to some history lessons for coworkers, as well as people on the street.
"I do have all this stuff in my wardrobe," said LaCroce, who is a vintage clothing collector. "I ended up learning a ton about history just by liking the clothes."
She explained that Wednesday's blouse and jacket ensemble was reminiscent of what a suffragette would wear during World War I.
"The women were thinking about the war, and it was influencing their choice of wardrobe," said LaCroce, pointing out some of the similarities between military uniforms and her own outfit, over 100 years old.
Thursday's dress has a shorter hemline, styled with a brighter shade of lipstick to reflect what the everyday woman was wearing during World War II.
LaCroce will end the week on a camouflage ensemble with a red, white and blue cowgirl hat to mark the more recent wars.
The five-day Memorial Day tribute is a first for her, but not the first time she's worn her antique clothing.
"I realized I had all of these clothes, and nowhere to wear them," LaCroce said.
In 2003 she founded the "Somewhere In Time Tea Society." Each month the group of about 20 ladies organizes an outing where they dress up in themed, antique clothing which helped inspire her to dress up this week.
Memorial Day is intended to be a time of memory to honor our fallen heroes. "So let's remind people," LaCroce said.
