Clothing in 1780

 

For one woman:

 

                        3 camisas (chemises)

                       

                        3 pairs of white poblano petticoats (naguas blancas poblanos)

 

                        2 pairs of petticoats

 

                                    one of serge* (sarga)

 

                                    one of baize** (bayeta)

 

                        2 varas (about 33”) of linen for jackets

 

                        2 pairs Brussels stockings

 

                        2 pairs shoes (moccasins)

 

                        2 rebozos (worn by all Spanish women in Nueva España

                                   

They were made of cotton, cotton and silk or silk.  Cotton was usually worn by commoners, silk by the wealthy.  They were worn as a covering and adornment. 

 

                       

 

 

Hair:  Spanish women braided their hair.  A ribbon was worn at the end of the braid.  Also a lace mantilla or capa (mantle) was always worn when in church or worshipping.  It was sometimes used to keep off rain or cover the head in the cold.

 

Makeup:  Flour was used to lighted the skin and a flour paste was worn to protect the face from the sun.  Powdered chalk was sometimes substituted.  Rouge was made from cow’s blood or alegria, a plant known as red cockscomb.  This makeup, while sounding terrible, hid the smallpox scars which many carried.

 

 

 

*baize-coarse woolen fabric

**serge-twilled fabric poblano