Ancient Mexican Clothing

Natives wore the essential garments for daily life and according to the information in the codex, murals or sculptures of those times, their clothes were not only worn to cover and protect the body but also as a sign of social status.

Men in the Aztec zone wore the máxtlatl, a kind of loincloth which Sahagún describes as a piece of cloth used to cover the genitals and the anus and sometimes a cape or blanket with a shoulder uncovered. Mayans wore a different kind of loincloth. On the other hand, women were usually topless. Only the ones with a high level or priestesses wore a kind of closed cape on their trunk called quechquémitl. They also wore a skirt and a huipil. They were barefoot or wore leather sandals.

What seemed surprising about their appearance was their deformed skull, file inlaid teeth and corporal tattoos. The latter were supposed to be privileges of dominating classes as well as the use of certain garments, jewelry and colors. Caciques wore precious feathers on their head.

They did not wear rings and the only kind of earrings were loops. They wore bracelets, necklaces and ornaments on their nose and chest.