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I would suggest maybe getting a brown Victorian wig with ringlets to start off with. Dolley Madison dressed very elegantly, and empire waist dresses were pretty popular in her time period. (Luckily, they're popular today, too!). I think there's an Empress Josephine costume that could actually double-up as a Dolley Madison costume if you wanted to buy a costume instead of make one or go shopping for a dress.
Some props to pick up might be a sabre. The legend has it that Dolley slept with a sabre by her bed, ready to take on British soldiers, if they entered the White House.
You can also have a "portrait" of George Washington to carry, too. Another legend of Dolley Madison was that when the first White House was burned by the Brits in 1812, she made sure to rescue Washington's presidential portrait from the building. Kind of a neat, historical story-telling prop for your daughter to have.
Good luck with it! Sounds like your daughter got a good, gutsy First Lady to dress up as!! Post some pics of her costume when it's finished!!
My daughter is doing a wax museum in school. She is going to be Dolley Madison. Any ideas for how I can make her look like Dolley Madison? Also any other ideas you may have would be fabulous! She needs props etc...