Colonial Period Clothing: Women

Part 2 - Women's Clothing

Looking at the type of clothing a people wear can tell you a lot about thier culture. This is especially true during colonial times in eighteenth-century America, when clothing served as more than a garment. The clothes that people wore during those times were also considered as distinguishing marks that reflected their social status.

This was especially true for women, who at the time were second-call citizens. Women's clothing was very uncomfortable and included dresses that were closely-fitted to the torso just under the bust, falling loosely below. In addition to this, women also had to wear corsets, which were at time tight enough to cause injury to the woman wearing them, and they also had to wear petticoats, which were very heavy and uncomfortable to "carry" around.

Find more womens colonial period fashion in our Colonial Period section at Timetraveloutfitters.com

Colonial Period Clothing: Men

Part 1 - Men

The clothing worn during the Colonial Era in the eighteenth-century was an array of great diversity. This time spans the early to mid eighteenth-century, up until the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In a land with a society ranging from royal governors and wealthy landowners to indentured servants and slaves there was no limit to the styles that one would see. The upper class would keep up on the latest fashion from imported garments from London, and would go to great lengths to show themselves in the finest garments.

Mens clothing while still very intricate could be broken down into a few simple components. Suit included a slim-cut, knee-length coat with narrow fitting shoulders and wrists. This coat was worn over a linen shirt, these were white with a high collar accompanied by a hip-length waistcoat, or vest. For pants, men would wear close fitting breeches along with high socks and black shoes. Everyone at the time wore hats - the most typical was a three-sided tri-corner hat. Neck cloths, also called cravat, were also worn by everyone, and varied from plain to lace or fringe edged. As with all places, weather played an large role in establishing the common dress. Northern men tended to wear darker colors and in the south the men tended to wear more elaborate, richly embellished designs.

As for accessories, it became the fashion that men would carry walking sticks, or canes - as time passed this became a sign of prestige. By the middle 18th century wigs would fall out of favor.

I'll add another post soon for Women's Colonial Clothing. See more examples of Men's Colonial Era Clothing and shop for all types of reenactment and historic clothing at Time Travel Outfitters.

Greek Fashion

Although no clothes have survived from this period, descriptions exist from contemporary accounts and artistic depiction.

Greek fashion tended to be very simple. Men and women wore linen in the summer and wool in the winter. For most ancient Greeks clothing was to expensive to buy at the market and most families made their own clothes, which were simple tunics and warm cloaks, made of linen or wool. White clothing was not always the norm as is often depicted today, and clothing would often be dye in bright colors.

The essential clothing for men and women was an inner tunic (peplos or chiton) and outer cloak (himation). The peplos was usually a heavier woollen garment, while the chiton was a lighter linen. Clothes were fastened with brooches or pins, and a belt or girdle would secure the waist. Men would often don a short cloak. Footwear would be leather sandals, or boots.

See some of these styles in our Greek Clothing section at Time Travel Outfitters.