Thoughts on 18th Century Shirts, and Woodland Indian Interpretation.

Thoughts on 18^th Century Shirts, and Woodland Indian Interpretation.

The 18^th century men’s shirt was classed as underwear, and it was made long enough to be tucked between the legs. This means that the average shirt should at least reach the knees when hanging loose, or longer. It was also used as a nightshirt. Now I am not aware that the trade shirt was any shorter than the ordinary shirt, and yet woodland Indian interpreters are often seen with short shirts and displaying their breechclout hanging below the length of the shirt. The breechclout was traditionally short, the material being as long as the height of the wearer.
Now I realise that there were tall and short people, and, it is possible that a tall person could end up wearing a short person’s shirt, but it does not seem feasible that everyone would have a short shirt.

http://www.uppercanadahistory.ca/fn/fn1.html

Here we see an 18^th century Iroquois warrior with a typical short breechclout.

http://www.uppercanadahistory.ca/fn/fn1.html

Here we see a Micmac with the same length breechclout, being well above the knees.

http://warriorstrail.com/

Here we see some woodland Indian interpreters. Only one of which is wearing his shirt short.

Anyone else have thoughts on the length of trade shirts?
Keith.

More Info on Indian shirts here: http://woodlandindianclothing.blogspot.com.au/
   
http://www.nativetech.org/seminole/plainshirt/plainshirtinstr.php