{"id":247538,"date":"2020-02-24T07:10:34","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T15:10:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lulus.com\/blog\/?p=247538"},"modified":"2021-10-06T12:21:17","modified_gmt":"2021-10-06T19:21:17","slug":"colonial-clothing-and-fashion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lulus.com\/blog\/resources\/colonial-clothing-and-fashion\/","title":{"rendered":"Colonial Clothing and Fashion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image via Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The original colonists were mostly Puritans. Their belief system was firmly rooted in simplicity and modesty, and their clothing reflected this. Coming primarily from England, where clothing was a source of pride and class distinction, the Puritans wanted to dress simply and plainly. There were no frilly collars, elaborate buttons, or adorned handkerchiefs. Colonial clothing did not use silks, satins, or velvets but instead practical material that would hold up well.<\/p>\n

Men’s Colonial Clothing<\/h2>\n

Colonial men wore clothes of wool and linen with some leather accessories. Their long linen shirts were worn with breeches, short pants that fasten just below the knee. Woolen socks came up over the knees, and a leather jerkin, a type of vest, was often worn over the shirt. A doublet is a padded jacket with sleeves, and you would sometimes see these worn as well as belts. Shoes were simple for colonial men, typically made of leather and free of buckles. The men often wore wide-brimmed hats and a cape or coat if needed.<\/p>\n

Women’s Colonial Clothing<\/h2>\n

Colonial women’s clothing was anything but extravagant. It was heavy and made of primarily wool and linen. The first layer was a shift, which is a long and loose nightgown-type undergarment. Over the shift, women wore a petticoat, which gave their skirt or dress fullness when they layered it on next, possibly with a belt. Similar to the men, women wore long woolen socks and plain leather shoes. All clothes were held on by laces, and typically, an apron covered up a big part of the dress. Women wore their hair long, pulled up, and covered by a cap called a coif. It fit closely against the head to prevent their hair from being a source of pride or boastfulness.<\/p>\n

Children’s Colonial Clothing<\/h2>\n

Boys and girls were not dressed much differently, if at all, as infants and young children, but they became accustomed at a young age to the traditional Puritan clothing of the adults. Children younger than seven wore simple shifts, and around seven or eight years old, they would begin wearing clothing similar to that of the adults.<\/p>\n

Servants’ Colonial Clothing<\/h2>\n

Following an old English tradition, colonial servants wore blue. Woad, a dye used to color clothing blue, was cheap and therefore had traditionally represented servitude. In colonial America, servants continued to wear blue and were thus set apart from the other colonists.<\/p>\n

Sumptuary Laws<\/h2>\n

There was a long history of sumptuary laws in England. These laws dictated what people could wear according to their class and position in society. These laws were repealed in 1603, much to the dismay of many Puritans. In 1651, the leaders within the Puritan colonies put into place their own version of sumptuary laws. These laws dictated what the common colonists could not wear. Only the educated and upper-class members of society were allowed to wear gold or silver lace or buttons, and the wearing of silk hoods or scarves by women was also prohibited except for by wealthy or highly educated colonists.<\/p>\n

Colonial Clothing Colors<\/h2>\n

There were no bright colors in Puritan clothing. They wore clothes in muted red, brown, black, green, and blue tones. White was used to represent purity and was shown in collars, cuffs, and aprons. The colors in clothing were often symbolic. Black was common because not only did it represent plainness, but it was cheaply produced. The blue worn by servants represented heavenly grace, and gray stood for fasting, prayer, and repentance. The red tones symbolized courage, and brown symbolized humility and poverty. Green, because of its presence in nature, represented the renewal of life, while pale yellow brought about feelings of renewal and hope.<\/p>\n

Colonial Textiles<\/h2>\n

Serge was the most common material used for curtains and upholstery and was often used for clothing. Serge is long-lasting twilled wool. Linsey-wooley was made from a combination of linen and wool and was coarse and very strong. Because of its durability, it was a popular choice for clothing. Most households did not have the equipment to spin yarn from wool or weave yarn into textiles, so while they typically made their clothes, they had to purchase the materials to do so.<\/p>\n