Thoughts on Native personas......

[Micanopy]

If you are having a native persona there are some things to consider, but this can be a consideration for poor southern people as well:
Remember that once trading began with whites, in the south it was mostly scotish traders, that cloth shirts were worn by natives and the buckskin shirts were traded for cloth and goods and clothing trends changed quickly. Natives preferd very long billowy shirts some with collars, some without, whites, reds, blues, prints of the period. It seems the gaudier the better. Among the Creek, Cherokee, Seminole, Alabama and other southeastern tribes turbans were very common adorned with plumes from ostrich, egretes, flamingo, wood ibis and some other birds with fluffy plumage, some died with colors that represented clans.

Leggings were worn by some, and not by others. It was a personal thing. Amoung the Seminole FootShotKiis, or "Big Shirts" were worn well below the knees and people went bare foot much of the time. Some clans wore a center seam moccasin that went well above the ankle that were not tightly sewn but laced together and had a decorative tab afixed to the toe and heel as well. Some other clans wore a single piece side seam moccasin with a seperate collar that would be worn up over the ankle in cooler weather and down in warm weather. Many were dyed with didfferent pigments in reds and blues. Some trimmed with felt or cloth in which many used red and yellow for trim.
More later...........

[Micanopy]

There are some leggings that were worn from the hip down, side seams that were thonged together at about two inches apart traveling down the outside of the leg. The leggings were fixed to a belt that held a loin cloth by means of a long piece of leather. Some fringe was seen on later leggings and some believe this was copied from the whites. It shows up after the first seminole wars. If beading is applied it is linear and floral, like vines with leaves, or grape vines. Many white beads are used in some examples and some patterns represent different clans. Think floral if you are going to adorn your regalia with beads.

Guns and bags. Bags were adorned with floral and patterned designs and are mostly rectabgular in shape. Tassels are afixed to the sides along with cones and shiney things. Again, the gaudeir the better. Rifles were sleek and well cared for as were smooth bores. Smaller calibers and smoothbores were the norm. Fixings were mix matched either traded for or killed for. Mixed matched items were found in bags, some brass fixtures and many silver fixtures are found in surviving examples.

Gorgets were prized items along with silver head bands that adorned the turbans of many individuals. Copper, brass, and silver arm bands, bracelets were very very common.

Ok, now maybeso this travels against everything you been told by whomever it was that tolt ya, but this is the way it was.

[Micanopy]

As for mixed bloods. it depends on which side of the family you leaned towards as how you progressed and what yer regalia would be fitting.

[Bulldog lady]

   Again thank you for interesting and useful information.  Gives me lots of ideas for projects.  I can forsee a trunk full of different tribal gear, get up in the morning and , what do I wear today ?        Since don't have a drop of native blood in me, guess have choice as have always loved reading and learning about different native customs and dress.  Again, thanks for sharing. 

[Hammer]

Well said......People made do with what they had...The Southeast Indians were influenced by the European people that had arrived earlier than Plains tribes...Trading was beneficial to both parties at the time.

[Watauga]

Yep! Good Post Micanopy I am trying to do a Long Hunter and they adapted a lot of Native clothing even as the natives were trading for the cloth shirts etc....

[Micanopy]

The painting was done by Catlin of Osceola while imprisoned in South Carolina.
The second painting is of an ambush waiting to happen in the everglades.
The 3rd is of Horse John, a Seminole Maroon or Black Seminole.
Note that these shirts are billowy and very long and the leggings are tight to the legs and thigh high with ties just below the knees. Much plumage was worn, either native birds or traded ostrich. Trubans were worn by some but not all.

[Micanopy]

Here is the third picture.
This next picture is of Billy Bowleggs, taken later in life, 1852, however the dress is what he wore during the second seminole wars.

[Micanopy]

This is a portrait of Wild Cat. The leggings are very interesting as they are buttoned. This view makes them appear to be center seams but were more than likely side seams traded for.

The second portrait is of William McIntosh a Creek leader. McIntosh, like many of the primary leaders was of mixed blood.