Natalie Meyer

Natalie Meyer could sew almost before she could read: her mother taught her the basics of hand sewing when she was five years old. Growing up in an age when girls were taught “Home Economics” in school, she became proficient at machine sewing and was making her own clothes by the time she was 11.

Meyer became interested in historical clothing in 1993 after becoming a docent at Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles. "We were permitted to costume within the time frame of the houses we were showing, 1876 to 1900. At that time, 'costuming' consisted of a long skirt and a high collared blouse. I soon became interested in doing better than that."

Around this time, Natalie joined the Costumer’s Guild West, Inc. and began attending their annual three-day Costume College® seminars, where she gained a wealth of information on historical clothing, construction, fabrics and history in general. She later become a teacher at the event and was the dean in 2002 and again in 2013.

Meyer is presently the head costumer for Heritage Square Museum in Los Angeles and for the Workman/Temple Family Homestead Museum in the City of Industry, Calif. She teaches sewing, produces period fashion shows, and lectures on the history of women’s clothing from 1300 to 1960.