What was Mandan clothing like? Did the Mandans wear feather headdresses and face paint?
Mandan women wore long deerskin dresses. Mandan men wore breechcloths with leather leggings and buckskin shirts. The Mandans wore moccasins on their feet, and in cold weather, they wore long buffalo-hide robes. A Mandan warrior’s shirt was fringed and covered with beadwork, porcupine quills, and feathers; a lady’s dress was often decorated with elk’s teeth and cowrie shells. Here is a site about the symbolism of Plains Indian war shirts, and some photos and links about Indian clothing in general. Mandan Indian leaders sometimes wore the long feather warbonnets that Plains Indians are famous for, decorated with buffalo horns and ermine tails. Mandan men and women both wore their hair as long as possible, sometimes down to their knees. Traditionally, Mandan people only cut their hair when they were in mourning. Both men and women usually kept their hair in two long braids, but sometimes left it long and loose for special occasions. The Mandans painted their faces different patterns for w
