The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings and prosecutions of people accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. These trials resulted in the execution of twenty people, fourteen of them women, and the imprisonment of many others. During this time, the accused individuals were subject to intense scrutiny, and their appearance often played a role in how they were perceived by others. In the 17th century, fashion was an important part of Puritan society, and the way individuals dressed conveyed their social status and adherence to religious beliefs. The dress of the accused in the Salem witch trials was no exception. Women at this time typically wore long, modest dresses that covered their bodies from the neck down.
Salem Outfit Ideas - What to Wear In October
Salem Massachusetts owns Halloween like how the North Pole owns Christmas. And because of that, the whole month of October is one big long Halloween celebration in Salem. So many people plan a visit to Salem in October to be part of the fun, and the magic. So how do you decide what to wear in October in Salem? We have a few suggested Salem outfit ideas to get you started.
Exploring the Wharf, Cemetery, Willows, Pioneer Village, and Winter Island
Salem has some areas that are "off the path" that are absolutely worth exploring! For this, you will want to make sure you have a jacket, shoes that are easy to walk in, and a super cozy hat. The Winter Island Hat is a super soft pompom hat that will keep you warm whether you're on the water, or in the woodsy areas. Perfect Salem outfit idea.
Visiting Museums and Shops Downtown
When you're walking around downtown and popping in and out of shops and museums (definitely check out the Peabody Essex Museum) you will want to have a light jacket, a small bag that you don't have to think about, and a cozy scarf. The McIntire Scarf is an oversized cowl scarf that is no fuss, and will be the perfect accessory.
Going out for Social Hour
In Salem there are tons of awesome places to grab a drink or bite in the late afternoon / early evening. Many of these options include outdoor options, so you'll want to be cozy. But since you probably want to travel light, the Anderson Ear Warmer is your perfect companion. It will keep you toasty, but if you find yourself warm inside, you can put it in a small bag for safe keeping. Pair it with a chunky knit and some fall boots, and you're good to go.
Taking a Cruise Around Salem
Salem is right on the water, and it's the perfect opportunity to see the area by sea! Escape the crowd of the city and get on a boat! It will be a little chilly, so you'll want to bundle up! Pair a sweater with some warm pants, and top it off with the Essex Scarf. Looking for some recommendations from locals? This post is for you!
Share Share Link Close share Copy linkWomen at this time typically wore long, modest dresses that covered their bodies from the neck down. The colors and patterns of the fabric were often plain and muted, as bright colors were considered immodest and attention-seeking. Clothing was closely linked to reputation in Puritan society, and any deviation from the accepted norms could be seen as a sign of moral corruption.
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Curator’s Eye: Salem witchcraft inspired dress by Alexander McQueen
ON JULY 19, 1692, ELIZABETH JACKSON HOWE was hanged in Salem, Massachusetts, a victim of the witchcraft hysteria that divided neighbors and sent nineteen innocent people, mainly women, to their deaths. More than three centuries later, the fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen and his creative director Sarah Burton visited Salem. It happened that McQueen’s mother had traced their family tree to Howe, and McQueen was looking for information. The result was his intensely personal Autumn–Winter 2007 ready-to-wear collection, “In memory of Elizabeth Howe, Salem, 1692.”
Dress from “In memory of Elizabeth Howe, Salem, 1692” collection by Lee Alexander McQueen (1969–2010). Velvet and satin, 2007/2008. WALTER SILVER PHOTO, © PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM, 2012.
Drawing on pagan symbolism, McQueen designed a starburst in hand-sewn, iridescent gunmetal-gray bugle beads radiating down the neckline and across the chest and shoulders of this form-fitting velvet dress. “It was a very personal collection for Lee,” Burton wrote in the catalogue that accompanied McQueen’s posthumous exhibition Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011, “but then Lee always used to say that his work was autobiographical.”
McQueen attended Central Saint Martins in London and apprenticed on Savile Row prior to opening his own house in 1993. Savage Beauty opened just a year after his untimely death in 2010 and remains one of the best-attended exhibitions in the Met’s history.
Petra Slinkard
Nancy B. Putnam Curator of Fashion and Textiles
Echoes from Salem: Witchy Fashions of the 17th Century
Whether you know it or not, you’re familiar with 17th century fashion. Our modern ideas of witch clothing trickled down to us from the 17th century, most notably from our fascination with the Salem witch trials of 1692. You see the 17th century all over the place this time of year! For example:
This little darling is a fairly classic, modern witch: pointed hat, “renaissance” dress, and criss-cross “corset” lacing. This polyester masterpiece bears little resemblance to anything we might normally consider historical, but the pieces are there; you just have to look!
The Dress
Our little purple witch is wearing a dress with a faux-stomacher front covered with silver rick-rack. In the 17th century, stomachers were an important part of a lady’s wardrobe. They held jacket-like bodices together and were often heavily decorated, especially with embroidery and gilt threads:
“Portrait of a Bride” by Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck, 1640
“Woman of the Stuyvesant Family” by an unknown artist, late 17th century (1670-1700)
The color black is also very 17th century. Black was the color of wealth, modesty, and respectable mourning, so it’s a bit surprising that the somber color was attached to witches. Most “witches” accused in the Salem trials and elsewhere were often of the lower classes and would not have been able to afford expensive black cloth. They would have worn something more along the lines of this:
“Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier” by Maestro della Tela Jeans, late 17th century
“Peasant Interior” by the Le Nain Brothers, 1642
The criss-crossing rick-rack mimics the lacing pattern of a pair of stays. Here is a pair of 1660s stays with sleeves that shows the criss-cross front lacing modern costume manufacturers have come to consider standard:
Stays and Busk, circa 1660
These wouldn’t have been outerwear for wealthier women, but would have been under the bodice. A lower class woman would not have had such fancy stays. Instead, she would have worn a reed or leather pair of stays over a chemise and skirt.
The Apron
Another 17th century aspect of the modern purple witch dress is the apron. Aprons were universal in 16th, 17th, and 18th century fashion. Everyone wore them, even if they were wealthy and never cooked a meal in their life!
“Citizen’s Daughter” by Wenceslaus Hollar, circa 1643
It’s especially fitting that the girl wearing the purple witch outfit has an apron on because it was standard practice in the 1600s for a child under 6 to wear an apron constantly to protect their skirts.
The Hat
Nothing says “witch” like a tall, cone-shaped hat! It’s been a Halloween witches’ staple since the 19th century, especially during the Edwardian era when costume balls and Halloween parties became popular.
Antique Postcard Design
Girl Dressed in a Witch Costume, circa 1880-1905
The photo of the young lady above shows how the traditional Halloween witch morphed from a variety of influences. Her dress is very 18th century (complete with quilted petticoat and fichu), while she herself is very Victorian. In addition, there’s that ever-present pointed hat! The hat style is undeniably 17th century. The tall, conical shape is derived from the capotain: a felted hat popular with both men and women since Elizabethan times.
“Head of a Man with a Pointed Hat” by Adriaen Brouwer, circa 1630
These hats were worn by every level of society from rich to poor. These big, funny-shaped hats seem really comical to our modern eyes, but they were considered a common essential for protecting your face from the sun and, for women especially, a sign of modesty. One of the best examples of the conical capotain is in this spectacular painting by John Michael Wright:
“Portrait of Mrs. Salisbury and her Grandchildren Edward and Elizabeth” by John Michael Wright, 1675
Detail of the Fabulous Hat
This is a later 17th century painting from 1675, but the style of the hat is a few decades earlier, around 1650-1660. The woman in the painting is not a witch; she’s just an upper class grandmother posing with her rambunctious and brightly-dressed grandchildren on a cool autumn day. But there’s no denying that it is the perfect historical example of what we’ve come to consider the ultimate symbol of Halloween magic!
The Shoes
Lastly, we come to the other wicked essential everyone loves to wear. The young girl in the purple witch costume is wearing simple Mary Jane flats, but for the adults, there is an iconic witch accessory with pointy toes and exaggerated heels…”Witch Shoes!”
As soon as they’re mentioned, everyone knows exactly what you mean. Just do a search on Google or Etsy and you’ll discover thousands of options that vary widely, but generally boil down to black, pointed or square toed, buckled or laced, and…well…witchy! Some of the styles are Edwardian in shape with straps and lacing. More traditional witches’ shoes, however, are 17th and early 18th century-inspired.
English Leather Shoe, circa 1640-50
Women’s Silk Shoes, circa 1700
Now I say “inspired” because over the centuries, the iconic buckle shoe had gone through many changes, each time re-emerging more cartoonish each time:
17th Century:
Men’s Leather Shoes, circa 1660
19th Century:
Men’s Theatrical Shoes, circa 1870-1900
20th Century:
English Underground Platform Shoes, circa 1974
21st Century:
Spider Buckle Witch shoes by Pleaser, circa 2012
So to Conclude:
The caricaturization, combination and evolution of the past is what defines our current ideas of Halloween, from witches and vampires to butterflies and hamburgers. Fashion itself is always evolving, so it makes sense that our “dress-up” fashions would follow suit. Being completely over-the-top is half the fun of dressing up in costume! You don’t want to be just a hippie. You want to be a technicolor, tye-dye-wearing, afro-topped, peace-sign-covered tower of disco glory…even if it’s not quite what you remember wearing back in the day. And you know what? That’s totally groovy.
Happy Halloween!
This made the attire of the accused even more significant during the witch trials. Any clothing that was seen as provocative or out of the ordinary could be used as evidence against the accused, strengthening the belief in their supposed supernatural powers. Furthermore, clothing was also used as evidence of bewitchment during the trials. Accusers claimed that the spirits of the accused witches would shape-shift into various animals, and their clothing supposedly bore the mark of these transformations. For example, if an accused witch was believed to transform into a black cat, any clothing with black fur or patterns resembling a cat could be seen as proof of their guilt. Overall, the dress of the Salem witch trial victims served as a visible representation of their social standing and adherence to religious norms. It was also used both as evidence against them and as a supposed manifestation of their alleged supernatural powers. The clothing of the accused played a significant role in shaping public opinion and ultimately contributed to the hysteria and tragedy of the Salem witch trials..
Reviews for "Fabricating Witchcraft: The Influence of Clothing in Salem Witch Trials"
1. Emma - 2 out of 5 stars - I was really disappointed with the Salem witch trials dress. The quality was subpar and the fabric was itchy and uncomfortable. The sizing was also way off, it was supposed to be a "one size fits all" but it was either too small or too big for everyone who tried it on. Definitely not worth the price.
2. Jack - 1 out of 5 stars - The Salem witch trials dress was a complete letdown. The design was nothing like the picture, it looked cheap and was poorly made. The stitching was all crooked and uneven, and the seams were already starting to come undone. It was also incredibly difficult to put on because the zipper was stuck halfway. I would not recommend this dress to anyone.
3. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars - I really wanted to like the Salem witch trials dress, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The material used was flimsy and felt cheap, and the fit was awkward. The dress was advertised as being historically accurate, but it looked nothing like the actual dresses from that time period. It felt more like a Halloween costume than a well-crafted dress. I was really disappointed with my purchase.