Not too long ago the knowledgeable
traveller needed only one glimpse of a local ladys distinctive
clothing to tell him exactly where he was. Even in areas where a particular
style was widely worn there was always somethingthe width of a
stripe, the color of a tasselto pinpoint the home village of the
wearer. And, even though all women in a village wore similar costumes,
each incorporated some small detail of design or color to make it individually
hers.
Traditionally, there were only two types
of tops. The huipile, worn mostly in the southern states and made from
two strips of material sewn to leave only arm and neck openings, could
be of any length. The quexquemetl, more common in the north and roughly
square, had only a neck hole and was worn like a poncho with the corner
points hanging front and back. Skirts were either simple lengths of
cloth wrapped like a sarong or yards wide with a single seam. Either
style could be pleated or draped in endless variations.
Although many of todays costumes
echo these pre-Columbian styles, a few date from colonial times or even
later. Hand woven textiles are often replaced by machine made goods
in patterns formerly unknown. Such accessories as decorative aprons
and the wonderfully versatile rebozos are strictly post-conquest.
Unfortunately, except on very special
occasions the wearing of regional costumes is being abandoned. Aesthetically,
while admittedly more practical and undoubtedly more comfortable, the
jeans and t-shirts that are replacing them leave a great deal to be
desired......
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