Colonial women’s clothing

1. Colonial women’s clothing Colonial women wore many different types of clothing. They had a dress for every type of activity!

2. Wealthy women • Wealthy women wore stays. These were pieces of clothing that made it very hard to move or even breathe. They were laced with whalebone. These women couldn’t work, because the stays, as said before, made it hard to breathe. • Their dresses were very big. The bottom of the dress was the part that was made big. This was also a symbol that the woman was rich.

3. Outdoors clothing • Women that worked obviously did not wear stays, because their work would be less efficient that way. These people made their clothing by hand. They didn’t go out and buy it, like we do. They used wood, linen, and leather. • A lot of the time people would have only 2 sets of clothing. They would wear the first set of clothing every single day. Gross!! The 2nd pair of clothing was for their religious day ( Sunday)

4. Colonial Brides • It is a very popular thought that colonists married as kids, but actually they married more along the lines of early twenties. Even though this was a young age, it is older than the age range of 12-16 years old. If you were white and free and you had a license, you had to get married over 21. If you were not free and you were working off your debts to society as an indentured servant, then you needed permission from your master. If he disagreed you were not allowed to marry. • At this time whites and blacks were not allowed to marry. There were 2 ways to marry. You could get a license or a guardians consent. The marriage license was quicker and easier though

5. Colonial children’s clothing • As mentioned in one of the prior slides, children of wealthy backgrounds wore stays under their clothing, so they didn’t play as much as the average kids. • Many people feel that only girls wear dresses, but this wasn’t true in colonial America at this time. Boys and girls wore dresses, until the age of 5 or 6. Then, the boys would start wearing pants. • Children and adults at that time enjoyed wearing bright colors like yellow, pink, etc.

6. Colonial pajamas • As mentioned in prior slides, children and adults only had 2 sets of clothing. So, their clothing for play and work were the same exact pair of clothing as the pajamas. • Plus, the colonists probably smelled really bad, as well as their clothes, because they showered maybe 1ce or 2ce a year!!! DISGUSTING!

7. This is the end! • This is the end of the slideshow. Hope you enjoyed it!