Basic costume

• NEPE dress
  
  Begin making your Native American costume by creating a simple buckskin dress. The modern version of this dress would be made with cotton fabric. The dress is cut with a simple T-shaped tunic pattern as shown in the attached image. You can make this pattern yourself by using a sleeveless dress to draw the pattern; then add the straight sleeves using a yardstick. Should you choose, you can wear matching leggings or pants made out of a similar pattern underneath the dress. The dress can have slits on the sides to show the pants.
  
  

Decorate the costume

• Each American Indian tribe had a different way of decorating the dress. Some added fringe on the bottom and down the inside and outside of the sleeves. Some added beads to the fringe. You can create any pattern you please on your American Indian costume, though you may want to view a few American Indian costumes for ideas. Items you can sew onto your costume are turquoise, red and tin beads. Pewter, wood and bone beads can be used too. You can also use feathers and ribbons to decorate your costume. See the resource links for authentic images of American Indian costumes for women.
  
  

Accessories

• Accessorize with moccasin shoes or boots. They can be plain or beaded. You will also want to wear a beaded pouch, a headband with a feather and a bow and arrow. It is customary to wear your hair parted down the middles with a braid behind each ear.