Here comes a woman with a stunning shawl! Is that woman going to a party? No that is her everyday wear. Many wealthy women would wear stylish clothes that included long silk dresses, stays, a cloaks, bonnets or wigs, and petticoats. A stay holds stomachs in to make them look thinner and limits how much they move. The cloaks were worn to keep them warm during the winter days. Look at the women go. Women in the 1700’s didn’t own more than 2-4 outfits. Items that didn’t touch the skin such as a gown would not be washed. And there you have it-the women of Colonial times.