Elizabeth Raum - The Scoop on Clothes, Homes, and Daily Life in Colonial America

Colonial shoemakers made childrens shoes at least two sizes too big. Children wrapped their feet in thick, itchy wool until they grew into the shoes.

All men wore breeches. But what they put on next depended on their jobs. A farmer would wear a sleeveless vest and a jacket. The jacket protected clothing from animals and dirt. Rich men strutted about in fancy coats made of brightly colored silk.

In the 1700s, it was also fashionable for wealthy men to wear wigs. Wigs were heavy, hot, and expensive. They were made of human, horse, or goat hair. The hair was tied with colored ribbons. Boys from wealthy families began wearing wigs when they were breeched.

While colonists were sweating in layers of clothes, American Indians went nearly naked. Their style was based on comfort and usefulness in daily life.

Women wore skirts or dresses made of . Eventually, some American Indian men adopted European styles. They wore hats, shirts, and blankets that they received from European fur traders.

In winter both men and women added buckskin leggings for warmth. Buffalo, beaver, bear, or rabbit robes kept them cozy on cold days.

The first colonists were shocked by how little clothing American Indians wore.

When it came to footwear, some native people went barefoot. Walking barefoot during childhood built up tough calluses on their feet. Calluses protected them from the pain of walking on pebbles, sticks, and prickly plants.

Other American Indians wore moccasins. These soft leather shoes were often attached with a strap around the ankle. Moccasins were comfortable to wear and protected feet from rough ground.

Fast Fact

Many colonial men ditched their dress clothes for native styles when they went hunting. This actor displays a buckskin shirt similar to those worn by colonists. These shirts protected colonists from prickly plants. The tan color allowed them to blend into the forest.

When the colonists arrived, there were already villages in America. But these homes belonged to American Indians.

In the cold northeast, Abenaki and Wampanoag people lived in wigwams. These small houses had arched roofs and wooden frames covered with bark. They were cozy in winter and cool in summer. Many Eastern Woodland Indians built longhouses. Up to 60 people lived in each wooden longhouse. People hung woven mats or wood screens to separate rooms. The Algonquian tribes of the Middle and Southern colonies used wigwams and longhouses. Both could be built in a few days, and they could last 10 years or more.