What clothing would Christopher Columbus have been wearing upon his voyage and when he discovered the Americas?
I do not know whether armour was carried on the first voyage; very probably it was, as they did not know exactly what they would find and would go prepared to defend themselves at need. It would not, of course, be worn at sea. In the period, ordinary seamen commonly wore a sort of jumper (seaman’s smock) similar in cut to a rating’s jumper in the modern RN, but reaching to mid-thigh, over a shirt and short breeches. The jumper could be oiled as protection against rain and spray. Shoes were not usually worn. In foul weather a cloak could cover the whole body, but obviously would not be worn when going aloft. Gentlemen and ship’s officers (then two classes of crew members, not synonymous) dressed better. They might wear ordinary seagoing clothing when appropriate, but otherwise wore the normal clothes of the period, slightly adapted for the conditions on board: breeches, close-fitting jacket (doublet), stockings and shoes with a short cloak (herreruela) when necessary. The normal Spanish
