How Were Clothes Different in Colonial Times?

Introduction

Clothes looked different in colonial times compared to clothes now. People who lived in colonial times had to wear clothes that may be uncomfortable. How were clothes different in colonial times?

Women’s Clothing

Women wore dresses that were long, often made in two different parts. The upper part was called the bodice, the lower part was a skirt. The bodice (upper part) buttoned up the front.

Women almost always wore hats when it was sunny to protect their skin from the sun. The hats could be decorated with different items such as ribbons, flowers, and feathers. Hats could be made from silk, felt, or straw.

A fan was a very important accessory for rich women in colonial times. Fans could be made from wood, ivory, bamboo, lace, silk, or paper.

Women often wore jewelry such as gold earrings, pearl necklaces, and silver hairpins. Quaker and Puritan women however, were not allowed to wear any jewelry.

A stay was worn over a shift. It was a wood or metal board to make women have good posture. A shift was underwear (undergarment) worn by women. It was most of the time made from white linen. It was long like a skirt that went down to the women’s knees.

Petticoats were kind of like skirts. They were worn on top of the shifts, and under the gown. Sometimes more than one petticoat would be worn for warmth.

Men’s Clothing

Men wore shirts that were loose. They also wore breeches and waistcoats. Men also wore stockings that look like the stockings girls wear today. Rich men would pad their clothing with horse hair or rags to make their thighs and shoulders look bigger.

The term “big wig” came from powerful and rich men who would wear really big wigs!

A waistcoat was worn over the shirt. Waistcoats could be made from wool, linen, silk or cotton. It would be decorated with tassels, embroidery, and lace.

A cravat was a popular form of neck wear for men in colonial times. A lot of men wore a cravat. It was a long strip of linen wrapped around the man’s neck multiple times and tied in the front.

Kids’ Clothing

Once a boy turned 5 or 6 years of age they would dress how an adult man would. Once a girl turned 5 or 6 years of age she would dress how women would. Some toddlers wore a pudding cap (a padded cap). Materials clothes were often made from were wool, silk, cotton, and more. These materials are still used today. But the way we make those materials today are different.

Conclusion

In conclusion, clothes from colonial times are way different compared to modern day clothes. They were hand-made from different materials, they look different and are more uncomfortable compared to clothes we wear now.

This is an example of a dress a women would have worn in colonial times.

These are the types of hats women used to wear in colonial times.

This is a fan. A fan was an important accessory for women in colonial times. Fans could be made of different materials.

This is an example of an outfit a man would wear in colonial times.

This is a wig that many men would have worn in colonial times. The term “big wig” came from powerful and rich men who would wear really big wigs!

This is a pudding cap. This is a hat toddlers wore in colonial times.

Here is a picture of breeches men wore in colonial times.

This is an example of a bodice that women wore in colonial times!

This is a waistcoat. This is what men would wear over their shirt in colonial times.

This is a cravat. A cravat was worn by men in colonial times.

Visit these sources to find more information:

Websites about Colonial Clothing :

Books about Colonial Clothing:

If You Lived in Colonial Times by Ann McGovern
The Scoop on Clothes, Homes, And Daily Life in Colonial America by Elizabeth Raum

5 FUN FACTS:

In colonial America, fancy clothes were were also called dress clothes. Work clothes were often called undress.
Shoe makers made children's shoes two sizes bigger that the child's actual size. The children wrapped itchy, thick wool around their feet until they grew into their shoes.
At night the only light in someone's house was the fireplace or candles. Most people used tallow candles that were made out of animal fat. Those candles smelled like rotten bacon!
Colonial fireplaces were used for cooking, light, and for warmth.
In Virginia it was against the law to play games on Sunday, fish, or hunt. Everyone was expected to be in church.

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