18 th Century Clothing By: Aaron Capelouto And Jesse Baker

Introduction 18 th Century was a time of social revolution and economic development. Clothing was a main symbol of one’s social standing. Each social class (upper class elite, newly expanded middle class, and servants) had their own respective clothing.

Upper Class Male Dressed in wool, silk, and other expensive fabrics. Dressed in wool, silk, and other expensive fabrics. – Trade played a key role in men obtaining their desired clothing. – Comfort was hardly ever considered. – Fashion followed the colonists from England to the New World.

Male Clothing Piece by Piece Three cornered hat Wig Coat and Shirt Britches Stockings Shoes Cane

Upper Class Female Like men, women would don clothing from many corners of the Earth. Like men, women would don clothing from many corners of the Earth. Women often flaunted expensive jewelry and other accessories. Women often flaunted expensive jewelry and other accessories. Sometimes women were expected to perform all their domestic duties and were subject to alter their clothing. Sometimes women were expected to perform all their domestic duties and were subject to alter their clothing.

Upper Class Female Piece by Piece Hat Wig Lace neck kerchief Stomacher, gown, and stays Petticoat Shoes Gloves

Industrial Revolution and the New Laborer The Industrial Revolution led to the growth of the urban middle class who possessed a greater distribution of wealth. English tailors began to make their services more widespread to this new burgeoning middle class. New inventions such as the spinning wheel made higher end fabrics more available to the general populous.

18 th Century Servant in Bondage Servants wore cheaper fabrics than the upper and middle classes and were often darker and rough to the touch. In the south, generally “men and women have many times scarce clothes enough to hide their nakedness, and boys and girls, ten and twelve years old, are often quite naked among their masters’ children (John Woolman, Journal, &c., p. 150)”

Maids and Servants Maids wore the same pieces of clothing as the middle and upper class females, but they were of much lower quality, and they rarely got new clothes. Most of their clothing was tailored to whatever duties they performed.

Children’s Clothing New era of psychological thought changed the way children dressed. New era of psychological thought changed the way children dressed. Clothes were now made to exclusively fit their young bodies rather than small adult clothes. Clothes were now made to exclusively fit their young bodies rather than small adult clothes. Very young children of both genders wore dresses. Very young children of both genders wore dresses. Toddlers wore padded hats to protect their heads. Toddlers wore padded hats to protect their heads. Some children were forced laborers and their clothing was bland and perpetually dirty. Some children were forced laborers and their clothing was bland and perpetually dirty.

Children’s Clothing

Region In more rural areas in the American colonies and England, families were compelled to be self-sufficient because of their separation from the intellectual hubs of the larger cities. In more rural areas in the American colonies and England, families were compelled to be self-sufficient because of their separation from the intellectual hubs of the larger cities. Clothes were often made of leather and other makeshift fabrics. Clothes were often made of leather and other makeshift fabrics. The shirt of the frontier man was made without ruffles at the neck in contradiction to urban males, whose shirts had multiple ruffles. The shirt of the frontier man was made without ruffles at the neck in contradiction to urban males, whose shirts had multiple ruffles. For the American colonists, the Native Americans had a large influence over them. For the American colonists, the Native Americans had a large influence over them. The frontier man was expected to weave his own cloth or suffer the consequences. The frontier man was expected to weave his own cloth or suffer the consequences.

War and Other Conflicts There were a number of barbaric conflicts in the 18 th Century. There were a number of barbaric conflicts in the 18 th Century. War of Spanish Secession (1701 to 1714) War of Spanish Secession (1701 to 1714) Seven Years’ War (1756 to 1753) Seven Years’ War (1756 to 1753) Ultimately leads to English dominance in Western culture and society. Ultimately leads to English dominance in Western culture and society.

Conclusion Clothing in the 18 th Century was a combined response to the political conflicts in Europe and America. Clothing in the 18 th Century was a combined response to the political conflicts in Europe and America. The industrial revolution created a new middle class that in time began to diversify their clothing. The industrial revolution created a new middle class that in time began to diversify their clothing. The importance of clothing is captured in the literature of the 18 th century, and its subsequent symbolism reveals clothing’s immense impact on society. The importance of clothing is captured in the literature of the 18 th century, and its subsequent symbolism reveals clothing’s immense impact on society.

Works Cited lebrun_MA.jpg lebrun_MA.jpg josef-horemans-ii_.jpg josef-horemans-ii_.jpg PCirviuIgIQ/TjRxqotlJuI/AAAAAAAAHNg/lLKse5mpULU/s1600/kauffman%2Bother%2Bhalf.jpg PCirviuIgIQ/TjRxqotlJuI/AAAAAAAAHNg/lLKse5mpULU/s1600/kauffman%2Bother%2Bhalf.jpg DSCN1243.JPG DSCN1243.JPG egf7lJOYjSA/Tcqf9dR75RI/AAAAAAAAAlA/ZIrBDaC56TE/s1600/masque.jpg egf7lJOYjSA/Tcqf9dR75RI/AAAAAAAAAlA/ZIrBDaC56TE/s1600/masque.jpg