Clothing

Similarly, the designs on Plains Indian clothing, such as honors insignia on robes, in some instances had specific meanings but in other cases simply provided decoration. Dyed quillwork was originally used to decorate buffalo- skin or deerskin shirts, vests, leggings, dresses, boots, and moccasins. It was later replaced by beadwork. Fringes added another decoration element to clothing. Other articles of clothing commonly seen on the plains included leather breechcloths in warm weather, and fur robes, caps, and headbands in cold weather. Native Americans also wore various types of headdresses.

The eagle-feather headdress, sometimes referred to as a warbonnet, is the most recognizable of all Native American clothing. At modern-day festivals and powwows, one sees warbonnets on Indians of tribes from other parts of North America. But this particular type of headdress originated among the Plains tribes.

Only a few men wore warbonnets, those who earned the privilege to do so in warfare. War chiefs usually had the longest headdresses. The number of black-tipped tailfeathers of the male golden eagle represented the wearer’s exploits. The feathers were attached to a skullcap of buffalo or deerskin, with a brow band that was decorated with quillwork or beadwork and dangling strips of fur or ribbons. Additional downy feathers were tied to the base of the eagle feathers and tufts of dyed horsehair to their tips.