What Are The Differences In Jamestown's Clothing
Most New England Colonists didn’t have a preference in what they wore. In Jamestown, colonists wore fancy clothes, while others wore tattered clothes with an interest in only finding gold and becoming rich. In the early 1700’s, men wore ruffs. Women wore frames formed of wood or whalebones underneath their dresses. Soon after, ruffs evolved into larger lace collars, although not many could afford such expensive clothes! As the 17th century went on, men began to wear knee length garments called “breeches.” They also wore long stockings and boots. They wore linen shirts and a kind of jacket called a “doublet” with a cape on the top. Men grew out their hair and grew beards. The doublet soon was replaced by the waistcoat. Men wore a frock coat over the waistcoats. Colonists used vegetable dyes to make bright colored clothes.
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These were used as decoration inside or outside of their best hats. Women wore linen garments called loose shifts. Over the shifts they wore long dresses. The dresses had two parts; the bodice and the skirt. Women in the 17th century did not wear pants. All clothing was homemade, and made by the women. Most women only owned about 2-4 outfits. The clothing was all hand-sewn and made of either wool or linen. Women’s clothing had to cover the woman's knees and elbows. Because of the belief that bathing was dangerous, clothing wasn’t washed. Often clothes such as a gown, might never be washed! Most colonists from New England wore simple attire except for the rich. Rich wore fancy clothing and anyone that wasn’t rich and dressed in fancy clothes would be fined and put in jail. Even simple decorations like buttons were considered to fancy and instead Pilgrims and Puritans used strings. Women and girls wore aprons and it was considered inappropriate for a woman or girl to wear anything
These were used as decoration inside or outside of their best hats. Women wore linen garments called loose shifts. Over the shifts they wore long dresses. The dresses had two parts; the bodice and the skirt. Women in the 17th century did not wear pants. All clothing was homemade, and made by the women. Most women only owned about 2-4 outfits. The clothing was all hand-sewn and made of either wool or linen. Women’s clothing had to cover the woman's knees and elbows. Because of the belief that bathing was dangerous, clothing wasn’t washed. Often clothes such as a gown, might never be washed! Most colonists from New England wore simple attire except for the rich. Rich wore fancy clothing and anyone that wasn’t rich and dressed in fancy clothes would be fined and put in jail. Even simple decorations like buttons were considered to fancy and instead Pilgrims and Puritans used strings. Women and girls wore aprons and it was considered inappropriate for a woman or girl to wear anything