---
node: fashion_na_colonial
type: fashion
slug: colonial_north_america_fashion
title: "Fashion in the Colonial Era"
lead: "In colonial North America, transplanted European dress took root: English, French, Spanish and Dutch styles were brought over, worn in homespun and imported cloth."
published: 2026-07-28
updated: 2026-07-28
image_file: colonial_north_america_fashion.jpg
image_source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anne_Erving,_Mrs_Duncan_Stewart_by_John_Singleton_Copley.jpg"
image_author: "John Singleton Copley (1767)"
image_license: "Public domain"
change: "Created as a fashion sub-page under the history section, with a period image (north_america region)"
requester: internal
reason: "Per the owner's decision, fashion lives under each history era"
---

## Overview

In this age of rival colonies, dress mirrored the fashions of the home countries while simplifying to suit local conditions.

## Key garments and style

The Puritans of New England favoured plain dark clothing and the planters of the South rich imported dress, while many people wore homespun cloth. Indigenous peoples took up trade blankets, cloth and glass beads and created new dress with ribbonwork and beadwork.

## Transition

In the age of revolution, republican plainness and practical frontier dress came to the fore.