Title: Colonial Clothing ***
Headings: Colonial Clothing
Colonial Clothing
Colonial Clothing

Content: The Colonial Clothing worn by Puritan men and women reflected their belief in austerity. Puritans were strongly opposed to sensual pleasures and were strong advocates of propriety, modesty and and decorum. Once again, the early Colonial Clothing of the Puritans reflected these beliefs. Colonial Clothing for Men
The Colonial Clothing worn by Puritan men were quite heavy and made from materials such as wool, linen or leather. The items of Colonial Clothing worn by Puritan men included the following: Long-length, loose linen shirts
Breeches which were short length pants that were fastened at the knee
Socks - long woolen socks were worn
A jerkin which was a sleeveless jacket which could be made of cloth or leather
A doublet which was a padded jacket with sleeves
Belts were sometimes worn
Plain leather shoes, usually without buckles
Hats - often quite large in a variety of style, usually wide-brimmed
Coats or capes were worn as protection from the cold and the rain
Colonial Clothing for Women
The Colonial Clothing worn by Puritan women were also quite heavy and made from materials such as wool and linen. The items of Colonial Clothing worn by Puritan women included the following: Long-length, loose shift which was worn as an undergarment. The sleeves were sometimes removable and could be tied on
The shift was covered by petticoats
Long gowns or skirts with a jacket were worn as the outer clothing
Belts were sometimes worn
Socks - long woollen stockings
Plain leather shoes
All clothes were held in place by tying them with laces
An apron was usually worn over the women's clothes
The women wore their hair long but it would have been deemed unseemly for hair to be shown. Hair was therfore hidden under a close-fitting coif
Coats or capes were worn as protection from the cold and the rain


Colonial Clothing for Children
The clothing of very young children, both boys and girls were simple shifts.