Where is the Friend (Quaker) bonnet?

Now that my cover for Keeping Secrets is posted and out there, the question is bound to come up in the minds of my future readers. They might retain the thought in their head. They might whisper it behind my back. Or, heaven forbid, they might even access social media behind my back. Gasp!

But the questions will all go something like this - "I thought Donna wrote a book about the Quakers. Then why is the woman on the front of her cover dressed like that? And where is the Quaker bonnet?"

Let me first state that NO ONE in 18th century America wore bonnets. They weren't the fashion yet. Headwear for women, which was much like Allstate Insurance for they would "never leave home without it," consisted of either a straw hat, oftentimes tied under the chin with a ribbon, or a mobcap.

"Okay, Donna. That's fine about her head, but what about her dress? It's certainly not black. And where's the large collar? Didnt you do your research?"

Unless you were a Puritan, you didn't wear black garments or large white collars. The Virginians, and the rest of the colonies for that matter, wore bright colors and fancy fabrics, including silks, satins, and jacquards.

And the Friends, in 18th century Virginia, dressed much like everyone else. Sort of.

“Papa, I want my big boy waistcoat out of this.” Thomas jumped up to touch a bolt of red, shiny damask. He turned sideways to gauge his father’s reaction, then spied some shiny, gold buttons. He reached for them and held them up to his chest. “And I want these buttons.”

“Son, ‘tis a bit bright.”

“I like bright. And red.”

“I will agree to the red fabric in this.” Amon held up a heavy broadcloth which had no shine. “I will not agree to the buttons. Sister Mary can give thee fabric buttons to match?”

It had started as a statement, but ended