Overview

In this age of cities and priestly rule, dress clearly marked rank and authority.

Key garments and style

Men wore a loincloth and cape, women the huipil and the quechquemitl shoulder cape. Kings and priests displayed authority with brightly woven cotton, huge quetzal-feather headdresses and jade and mosaic ornaments; the Maya murals of Bonampak record the splendour.

Transition

In the Postclassic period, under the Aztecs and Toltecs, strict rules assigning dress by rank appeared.