Colonial Men’s ClothingBy:Georgiy Izyumskiy 7A1 ID2

Indroduction

If you have ever been in Williamsburg in Virginia, you probably have seen many men dressed in complicated suits. Shirts with weird cloth sticking out. Something that looked liked leggings on their legs, and many other extraordinary clothes we never saw. The project I’m doing is going to be about these unique clothes many men put on in the colonial times.

The parts of a typical man’s colonial suit.

Tri-corn hat Wig Banyan Cravat Coat Breeches Stockings Shoes

Le chapeau tri-corn/ The tri-corn hat. A tri-corned technically is just a hat with its’ edges folded

upward to make a three cornered hat. In the colonial period it was called the “cocked” hat.

Normally this hat was used in military and naval uniforms. The idea of the “cocked” hat was that when it rains, the

rainwater slides down the hat and instead of the rain going in the face it disposes it over the man’s shoulders.

It was fashionable because it was cheap, simple, yet extravagant, people also decorated it with a gold, or silver lace, feathers, and other trinkets.

La perruque/ The Wig The wig was basically made to compensate the loss of a

man’s hair, or improving his personal appearance. Another purpose they served was that head lice wouldn’t be

a problem if the real hair was shaved , and a wig would be put on top.

The first wigs introduced to the English people were by the French.

Others put on wigs because it was to honor Queen Elizibeth I who wore a tight red wig that was curled “Roman” style. People of high rank, wealth, and the wigmakers, mostly wore wigs.

Le Banian/ The Banyan The banyan was a loose robe that was worn instead of a

coat. Banyans were also called Indian gowns, nightgowns, or

wrappers. It was cut in a loose T-shape or made just like a long simple

coat. It was comfortable to wear at home and at important dates or

meetings. The robes were usually patterned, so they can be from light

and cool or from quilted to warm.

La cravate/ The cravat During the colonial years many men used to wear some kind

of cloth on their neck. Cravats could’ve been worn for fashion and for labor to look

nice. Cravats were made out of linen, it was a narrow piece that

could be enhanced on its’ ends with a lace or a knot. The cravats were wrapped around the neck and tied in the

front, like a tie but larger and more grand. The word cravat was acquired from “crabate” that was worn

by the Croatian soldiers serving with the French army.

Le Pelage/ The Coat The coat was the uppermost layer of the suit that men wore

nearly every day. The coat was put over the waist coat and the breeches.

The coat that has a collar can also be called a frock. The coats were fashionable for dress and for undress. The “frocks” were popular till the 1770’s when at that time

they were called “coats” again.

La Culotte/ The Breeches The breeches are short pants that reach up a little below

your knees. From the late 16 century till the early 19 century many men

used to wear breeches. Most men wore breeches as their lower garment, even

though the breeches could be in many forms and length. Stockings usually came underneath the breeches to cover

the bare parts of the legs. Leather breeches were used at work, but breeches could

also be made out of wool, cotton, and silk.

Les Bas/ The Stockings Stockings were worn by men as well as women, mostly they

were knit. With some technology in the late 16 century the stocking

could even be embroidered and given color. Slaves usually did the course stockings who were cut of

woolen or linen cloth and sewn into the size of the leg

Les chaussures/ The shoes The shoes that the men could’ve had varied different sizes,

shapes, and colors. The low heel shoes were most fashionable because they

were made of softer leather. The low healed shoes were also called pumps. The frequent color of the shoes is black but the colors may

vary occasionally. The shoes were usually fasten by a buckle, the ties were

also a way to tie shoes but those were used for utility purposes.

Bibliography 1. http://extremecostumes.com/1113BK.jpg 2.http://www.history.org/history/clothing/men/images/stockings1.jpg 3. http://www.ehow.com/how_5659112_make-colonial-breeches.html 4.http://www.history.org/history/clothing/men/images/breeches1.jpg 5.http://www.history.org/history/clothing/men/images/cravat1.jpg 6. http://www.history.org/history/clothing/men/images/banyan.jpg 7. http://www.history.org/history/clothing/men/mglossary.cfm 8.http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_Ux9VCsldKC4/TB_EtQywpAI/

AAAAAAAAAYk/zPE4ipliC3g/s1600/17th_century_elizabeth_wig.jpg 9.http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid

=20071225182843AA2KeEZ 10.

http://img.costumecraze.com/images/vendors/forum/64811-Kids-Deluxe-Tricorn-Hat-large.jpg

Bibliography (Books) Explore Colonial America! By:Verna Fisher illustrated by:

Bryan Stone Five Centuries of American Costume by: R.Turner Wilcox Colonial America by: Nancy Day Costume by: Margot Lister Clothes in Colonial America by: Mark Thomas