Within the territory known as Mexico, there existed a dramatic division between headwear worn by indigenous tribes prior to, and then after, the Spanish conquest of the 1500s. This sudden break was most evident when huge feathered headdresses worn by the ruling elite Aztec and Maya kings and warriors disappeared, to be replaced by European wigs and plumed hats on Spanish government officials, tall miters for Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, and metallic helmets on soldier-conquistadors. The desig

Firstly, for a better understanding of the role that fashion played in the early independence period, a brief overview of colonial history and society is necessary. The personal experiences of those who participated in the conquest helped to shape the colonial experience, influencing the generations to come. These first Spanish settlers of Mexico or New Spain as it was known, included groups of lesser gentry, especially those young men who had been cut off from the family fortune by the rules of