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FOOD | ARTISANS | CULTURE | COSTUMES | GAMES | MUSIC | JOIE DE VIVRE
(705) 647-8500 I info@cenreartem.org
This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada.
DRESS UP!
For the Village Noël to live up its New France inspirations, there needs to be habitants in the streets! Singing, dancing, having fun, and spreading joie-de-vivre... do any of these interest you? Please fill out this volunteers form to become part of the team of costumed habitants at the 2024 Village Noël!
Click here to learn more!
COSTUMES
Here is a detailed overview of the clothes and outfits worn by french-Canadians during the 1700's.
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To open the lexicon and see the definitions of vocabulary words, click on the words that are highlighted in italics and bold.
THE HABITANTS
In New France, clothing for both men and women of the lower classes was generally made with rough or fine woollen fabrics (wool and cotton weaves).
MEN
Men's hair was worn long and plain, often covered by a (usually red) toque, a type of woollen hat.
Shirts were made of white cotton with collars and buttoned cuffs. Men also wore waistcoats, which were buttoned at the front and featured pockets and basques. They also wore ties of fine canvas tied at the neck, with both ends falling over the chest.
Pants were made of woollen fabrics, featured button flies, and were fitted at the knee.
They wore tailored or knitted long wool stockings held up by garters and leather shoes that tied at the top with a metal buckle. Some also wore clogs.
WOMEN
Women covered their hair with quilted bonnets tied under the chin. These bonnets were made of quilted canvas and always worn under a head covering known as a cornette, while other bonnets, such as single- or double-rowed bonnets, were worn alone.
White cotton blouses were short sleeved and open at the neck. Women wore canvas or muslin neckerchiefs. Bodices were fitted garments with basques and sleeves tied at the front or back.
Skirts, worn over petticoats, were long and generous and made of woollen fabric. Aprons were made of heavy canvas or dark woollen fabric. Women always wore white aprons in public.
Stockings were made of wool and held by garters at the knee. They were worn with shoes or clogs.
THE BOURGEOISIE
The clothing of the better off was tailored from silk, velvet, or beautiful woollen fabrics. Dyes for clothes were much more available than they were for commoners, so colours worn by the bourgeoisie were much more varied.
MEN
Wigs were the height of fashion, along with canes and gloves. Three-cornered hats were adorned with feathers.
Shirts were white and made of fine canvas, featuring jabots and oversleeves. Men's waistcoats, which featured embroideries and braids, were worn under ornate justaucorps.
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​Pants were tailored from rich cloth and ended at the knees. They boasted beautiful metal buttons that were both decorative and practical.
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Long, straight ties were made of muslin and wrapped around the neck with their knotted ends falling over the chest.
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Stockings were made of red or pink silk. Shoes had square toes and high heels.
WOMEN
Ladies wore their hair in the Fontange style.
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Their white blouses were of fine canvas adorned with lace collars and engageantes. Fitted dresses featured short, narrow sleeves. Dress coats were left open at the front to reveal ladies' stomachers. The bottoms of the dresses were raised and pinned at the back.
Skirts were ornately decorated with pleats and appliqués.
Silk stockings and shoes were covered in rich cloth.
Ladies often carried fans or parasols or wore gloves. When indoors or in the garden, they would wear lace aprons.
THE NOBILITY
The ornate clothing of the nobility was made of luxurious fabrics well beyond the reach of the other classes, who had to settle for imitating the cut of their clothing.
MEN
Men's wigs, known as in folio, were so cumbersome that noblemen had to carry their hats under their arms.
Their white shirts featured jabots and cuffs. Jabots, cuffs, and ties were adorned with the finest Point de France or Point de Venise lace. A Steinkerque-style tie was wound twice around the neck and its ends were inserted into the sixth buttonhole of the justaucorps. Vests were embroidered with gold and silver thread. Justaucorps worn on top were decorated with golden braids and ribbons.
Men wore pants of the finest figured silk.
Stockings were made of silk, and shoes covered in figured silk.
Men carried canes and wore gloves.
WOMEN
Ladies wore their hair in the Fontange style, and the lace they wore was decorated with butterflies or hornets made of gems.
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Their white shirts of fine canvas were open at the neck and adorned with frilled lace. Engageantes were decorated with Point de France or Point de Venise lace.
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Dresses were tailored from the finest figured silk and ornately decorated with gold and silver thread. Skirts were adorned with appliqués and fringes and worn over layered petticoats.
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Their stockings were made of silk, and their shoes covered with figured silk.
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Women protected their pale skin from the sun with gloves and parasols.
