The style of dress of the colonists would have been from the period from the last 3 years of the Tudor era under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and twenty two years of the Jacobean era of James the First who reigned 1603–1625. There is a misconception that the Plimoth colonists wore only black clothing and wore hats and shoes with buckles. In fact, their everyday clothes were many many colors that could be made with plant dyes such as shades of red, golds, green, blues, violet, and browns. Black clothing was reserved for special occasions because it was difficult and expensive to dye cloth black. Men wore a shirt, breeches and a doublet (jacket) made of wool or canvas over their linen shirt . They had collars made of lace or linen. Women wore a linen smock ( knee length slip ) which as then covered by a stay (like a corset)  and “a pair of bodies” (like a compression bra). Over this, a wool waistcoat (jacket) and petticoats (like skirts) covered their legs. Women usually had a kerchief  or a linen collar around their neck. Everyone wore stockings and latchet shoes or boots and aprons to keep their clothes clean. In cold weather, they wore wool cloaks. Women’s heads would be covered with coifs (small bonnet) and a brimmed hat of straw or felt and men wore wool caps or brimmed hats.

Wamapanoag men wore deerskin breechclothes and leggings in colder weather and mantles over the shoulders made of skins of racoon, otter or beaver. They used paints and tattoos on their skin. Women worn  deerskin skirts and leggings in colder temperature. they also worn animal skin mantle and also painted their skin. Moccasinash (a pair of moccasins) were worn on feet and made of elk, moose or deer skin. Both men and women wore jewelry made of glass trade beads, bone, shells, wood, and copper.

For more information, please see:

https://plimoth.org/for-students/homework-help/what-to-wear

For Details on Women’s Clothes

For Details on Men’s Clothes

What to Wear in 1640

Leiden American Pilgrim Museum

Renaissance Dyeing

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