Body Coverings through the Ages Quiz

Answer: Coats of skin

According to the Bible, after the episode with the serpent and apple, Adam and Eve recognized their nakedness and attempted to cover themselves with fig leaves to avoid the gaze of God. Didn't work so well. After they were busted, different attire was provided.

According to Genesis 3:21 (King James Bible), "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them". Then he cast them out of the Garden of Eden.

Answer: Muumuu

The muumuu continues to be represented in the formal wear of elegant Hawaiian society. Its style has evolved, but lovely examples abound in evening wear.

The original design was called a "Mother Hubbard" - a long, loose-fitting gown intended "to cover as much skin as possible". The missionary ladies thought this style was appropriate in this hot, humid tropical climate (not!). Many Polynesian Island ladies interpreted the cotton wrap style in much cooler, unique ways.

Answer: Ruff

A ruff is often associated with Queen Elizabeth who sported an impressive white collar above her royal gowns in portraits from the period.

Interestingly, natural dyes were used in the starches of these accessories to add tints of yellow, pink and mauve. Never could a ruff be tinted blue, however. According to a Royal Prerogative, Elizabeth mandated that "...no blue starch shall be used or worn...since blue was the color of the flag of Scotland".

A neckerchief was worn by Boy Scouts, cowboys and sailors. Today, an ascot is worn by toffs. A cloak was most famously worn by Count Dracula.

Answer: Touhou Project

The Touhou Project is a Japanese dojin computer game series focused on "bullet hell shooters" started in 1995 - the period surged and ebbed for the next several years but has no relation with a cap.

The other foils were known for the "mob cap" style of women's hair covering. Known as a "round, linen, gathered bonnet originally worn indoors...or outdoors covered by a hat" - the name first was coined from the style of bonnet worn by women of the French Revolution who joined the mobs gathered to overthrow the aristocracy.

Later this style was associated with Georgian, Victorian and continental servants and nurses. This definition remains to this day representing hair covering for all medical professionals.

**Aside - The "Touhou Project" continues to flow through the Japanese gamer world. As a computer gamer infant, I am unable give much information on this topic. Luddite on, my few non-tech friends!**

Answer: White garments

The royal "White Mourning" survived until the 15th century. It was revived in 2004 by the four daughters of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands for her funeral. (A marvelous painting exists of Mary, Queen of Scots, circa 1561, in white mourning that represented her loss of her father-in-law Henry II of France, her mother Mary of Guise, and her husband Francois I of France.)

By the 19th century, mourning dress was quite defined - widows would wear heavy black clothes and veils (known as "widows weeds") for up to four years. Slowly, they were allowed to wear muted colors, such as grey and lavender as they were re-introduced into society.

Answer: Patent leather shoes with a round toe and strap

Mary Janes are shoes with a round toe and strap around the ankle. Little girls were famously photographed wearing this style in the USA in the early 1900s.

This style is also known as a style for men and boys. Famously, during the Renaissance, portraits of Henry VII of England, Francis I of France and Charles IX of France all sported the same "Mary Jane" style of shoes.

Soft shoes with no heel are informally called slippers. Court shoes with a small heel are kitten heels, and the tall pointed heels named after a knife are stilettos.

**A tragic aside - American President John F. Kennedy's son ("John-John") and British princes William and Harry wore the style of shoe called Mary Janes at their parents' funerals.**

Answer: her - 'kerchief, him - cap

First published anonymously in 1823, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" was later credited to Clement Clarke Moore. Largely considered one of the primary conceptions of the American vision of Santa Claus, the poem describes certain nighttime fashions that men and women wore for warmth in the bitterness of the New England winter.

The lady wore a kerchief (head kerchief - not a neck kerchief) to keep her head, neck and ears covered. The man wore a cap (a long, triangular head covering similar to a stocking cap) to keep his head and ears warm.

My husband and I lived in northern Minnesota for five years. We survived -40 F below winters and 140 straight days without sunshine - we wore earmuffs and plaid hunter hats to bed to deal with the cold. I love to vacation in Cancun!

Answer: Mesopotamian

Wow - headgear through history is a fascinating study! Mesopotamia was located near Iraq circa 3000 and 300 BCE. Back then, men shaved their heads and women braided long hair into lovely shapes. Later styles for both sexes evolved, but no mention of turbans have been discovered.

Egypt and Persia are known for elaborate male head adornments. Men wore a "conical cap encircled by a band of fabric" (aka turban) dating from the 1st century BC.

The Phrygian era (from the Thrace area in the Black Sea) developed a turban-like cap that has flowed through history and was echoed in the Liberty Cap of both the American and French Revolutions.

Answer: Babushka

During her ride with the American President, Queen Elizabeth II wore a head scarf wrapped in the style of Russian grandmothers (Babuskas).

Ochipoks and papahikis are wonderful ethic head-coverings! Please research these lovely items!

The Feather Bonnet was historically used by the Scottish Highland infantry. Now used in ceremonial occasions, it is the pride of the Highlanders. William Gordon-Alexander described the feather bonnet as, "Not only the most sensible head-dress in the British Army as protection against sword-cuts, but also being, when properly made up, the most perfectly ventilated and coolest for hot climates hitherto invented". WOW!

Answer: Jockeys

The style was called Jockeys due to its similar degree of protection for horse riders. Trunk are modest longer men swim suits from the 1950s to date. Boxer shorts are worn by men under their trousers to allow a certain amount of air flow. Lackeys are minions that have nothing to do with underwear.