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In summertime, children of both sexes who were less than 12-13 years old went naked. Older boys and men wore a loincloth. Women and older girls wore nothing above the waist, and a wrap around knee-length skirt which extended to the knees. Around the village, everyone went barefoot in warm weather. Since deer skin moccasin soles wear out through heavy use, they saved them by not wearing them when not needed. Away from the village, moccasins would be worn. Also, a man or a boy would sometimes wear leggings when away from the village. These were two tubes of deerskin that covered the legs from the ankle to the hip. Leggings were used as protection from thorns, poison ivy, etc. The leggings were tied by cords to the waistbelt. Women and girls also wore leggings, but since their skirts protected the upper legs, their leggings just extended to the knee and tied above the knee.

Kilts, which look a lot like skirts, were occasionally worn by Iroquoian men on formal, dress-up occasions, but seem not to have been part of the day-to-day wear. Nudity among adults in warm weather was apparently not uncommon in the 17th Century.

In winter, both sexes wore fur-lined, full length robes, however, we know relatively little about their winter attire. The Jesuits mentioned mittens of fur, fur-lined moccasins insulated with dried grass and fur caps. I suspect that they wore several layers of fur-lined clothing with a blanket or robe pulled over the shoulders, but that is partially conjecture based upon incomplete data and a few early sketches.

Hair

Girls wore their hair long and loose. Women seem likewise, to have favoured long hair worn loose. If a 17th century Mohawk boy were to appear in modern attire on the street today, his hair would pass without notice, although people would think it a little shaggy, but not overly long.

When a boy was about 15, he began to pluck his hair except for a strip down the middle, which was greased to stick up. This is the famous "Mohawk" hairdo - a somewhat incorrect name, since most tribes of the eastern U.S. and southeastern Canada wore a similar style. An older boy or adult male wore his hair in a "Mohawk" until he was past the age for participation in warfare. Modern illustrations and museum exhibits portraying Iroquois warriors with long braided hair are simply inaccurate.

Men plucked their beard. For that matter, both sexes removed any hair on their bodies below the neck. It was apparently considered unattractive and animal-like.

Both sexes had their ears pierced in infancy or early childhood. Small beads of clay, copper, bone, etc. were used as ear ornaments. Other ornaments (necklaces, armbands etc.) seem primarily to have been worn for dress-up occasions. Paint likewise, was worn when someone wanted to dress up. We think of natives as wearing paint for war, which they did, but they also used it for parties, feasts or ceremonies.. Evidence of Iroquois use of feathers in the hair is limited, but they probably did wear them. Mohawk warriors were known in later periods to wear tattoos. There are few references to tattooing in early writings. More likely, tattooing came into style later but it is also possible the early Jesuits simply did not mention it.