2. Everyday dress
• The basic garment for males was a breechcloth, called
maxtlatl in Nahuatl. The maxtlatl would often be worn
under a cloak or cape called tilmahtli also called tilma in
Spanish and English). Various styles of tilmatli existed
which served to indicate the status of the wearer.
• Aztec women wore a blouse called huīpīlli also called
huipil in Spanish and English) and a skirt called cuēitl.
Women kept their skirt on them with a sash called a
cihua necuitlalpiloni . In the Classical Nahuatl
language, the couplet cuēitl huīpīlli "skirt and blouse"
was used metaphorically to mean "woman".[citation
needed]
• The Aztecs wore different clothes depending on their
age. Children younger than three wore no clothes.
From age three and up, girls wore blouses and boys
wore capes.From age four and up, girls additionally
wore short skirts. From age five and up, the girls' short
skirts was replaced with a longer skirts. At age 13, boys
finally started wearing loin cloths.
• Sandals, called cactli, were a sign of status. They were
largely restricted to noble males. Those who entered
temples or appeared before the emperor were
required to be barefoot.
3. Hairstyles
• Aztec woman wore hair in
two braids that projected in
the front like horns and this
hairstyle was called
neaxtlāhualli.
4. Jewelry
• The Aztec (women and men) would tend to always decorate themselves with gold
bangles, necklaces, chokers, etc. Such jewelry was worn to show how wealthy one was; a
poor or unwealthy Aztec would tend to wear less jewelry than an Aztec of higher placing and
wealth.
• The jewelry worn by the Mayan, Aztec, and Inca people was rich in variety and quite
beautiful. Without metalworking skills, Mayans made jewelry from many other materials.
Mayan men wore nose ornaments, earplugs, and lip plugs made of bone, wood, shells, and
stones, including jade, topaz, and obsidian. Necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and headgear were
made with jaguar and crocodile teeth, jaguar claws, and feathers. Mayan women and
children wore less elaborate necklaces and earrings of similar materials.
• Aztecs and Incas perfected metalworking to a great art. Gold and silver jewelry was worn
alongside ornaments made of feathers, shells, leather, and stones. Among the Aztecs, laws
about which ornaments could be worn were strictly enforced. Only royalty could wear
headdresses with gold and quetzal (a bird with brilliant blue-green feathers that reach three
feet in length) feathers, for example. The weaving tradition, so important to Incas, helped
create beautiful woven headdresses. Inca emperors wore woven hats trimmed with gold and
wool tassels or topped with plumes, or showy feathers. Incas also created elaborate feather
decorations for men: headbands made into crowns of feathers, collars around the neck, and
chest coverings. In addition, wealthy Inca men wore large gold and silver pendants hung on
their chests, disks attached to their hair and shoes, and bands around their arms and wrists.
Inca women adorned themselves simply with a metal fastening for their cloak called a tupu.
The head of their tupu was decorated with paint or silver, gold, or copper bells.
5.
6. Battle costume
• All warriors wore basic
loincloths. When they were
recognized by the state for
their bravery in battle or
killing a large number of
opponents, their status
increased (regardless of
original class) and they
were rewarded with shell
and glass beaded jewelry. If
the warrior was more
honored or a higher
rank, they would wear
Jaguar or Eagle costumes in
battle.