Colonial Clothing - Formality in days gone by
The early Americans of the eighteen century took a lot of care and pride in how they dressed. Strict rules applied to clothes for both men and women of this period.
Colonial Clothing for women consisted of many different components and the style was uniform in design. The main component consisted of a long gown that covered the whole body from shoulder to ankle with a petticoat underneath. The gown consisted of a pieced together top and skirt. The petticoat was an essential part of the dress and was not considered as Colonial Clothing underwear.
The shift was the undermost garment worn by children and women. This Colonial Clothing was made from white linen and worn as a shirt men would wear. It either had a drawstring or plain neck, as well as drawstrings or cuffs at the elbows. It could be plain or lace trimmed.
Another form of Colonial clothing dress was the Brunswick. It was an informal gown worn with a three quarter length jacket and petticoat. It had a long sleeved bodice with buttons and frequently had a hood.
A short gown was worn for casual or work attire. This Colonial Clothing was a loose T shaped garment of hip or thigh length. It was wrapped and help together with either pins or an apron.
The women and girls wore a cotton or linen cap to cover their heads. Lace and ruffles were commonly added to the cap to make it more stylish. The cap eliminated the need to style their hair and also protected it for dust and dirt so it didn’t need to be washed as frequently. This Colonial Clothing was worn in the home but was topped off with a tied on hat whenever they went out. The hat was worn for fashion and for protection from the sun. A fashionable hat usually had a very shallow, flat crown and a wide brim. Hats of made of straw were the most popular from the 1730s to the 1770s. They were trimmed with various types of fabric or covered completely with fabric. There were riding hats for ladies and they were usually made of felt.
In place of our coat, colonial people wore a cloak or cape. The cloak was a long loose fitting garment that covered the neck and shoulders and was buttoned at the front center of the neck. This Colonial Clothing was usually made of wool and sometimes came with a hood. Capes were made out of wool, cotton or silk, and wore in the same manner as cloaks, only the were shorter than cloaks.
We can still find Colonial clothing today, but mostly in a historical museum or in costume wear. You can also view Colonial clothing online at their Williamsburg site to take a peak back in history.