Two Female Domestics of Lima, Natives who have adopted the Spanish Dress
Location: Peru
Description:
"Plate IX. Represents two female domestics, natives, who have adopted the Spanish dress, and, with it, the habits of their superiors" (224). These two wear the traditional saya y manto, but if we compare them to "La Tapada" from Recuerdos de Lima, we can see the marked difference in the style of their clothing, although it follows the same basic principles of cut and design. The fabric here appears to be much rougher; there is no embroidery or decoration as with the dress of "La Tapada", which was clearly designed for a lady of leisure. This adoption and adaption of the clothing of the upper class is a quite typical phenomenon throughout costume history. These domestic servants do not have the luxury of fine clothes, but we can certainly compare the two images in terms of style of dress.
Book Title: The Present State of Peru
Plate Number: Page 224
Call Number: F3411 .S62