Hello everyone, this is my first post; I came across this thread while researching about the typical costumes Mexicans wore in the 19th century, specially the Charros/rancheros and hacendados (land owners). I wanted to make my own vaquero costume or possibly buy one; I am doing some historical work here in Texas about the original cowboy, i.e., the Mexican cowboy and I wanted to look the part. I searched for paintings that might depict Mexicans of that era to give me some idea of how they dressed. I also went to some San Antonio charro shops but they only sold post 1800's charro suits and I want the pre 1800's suits.
While searching I befriended a Mexican man from Monterrey, who told me to search for "chinaco ranchero" or "traje chinaco," and told me the names of a few painters/artists from the era who depicted Mexican life in the 19th century. Well the info was great and I was able to find some Flickr groups/sets that specialized in Mexican cowboy culture:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/927225@N20/ My problem, though, is that I need some info on how to make my own suit based on those pictures or find a place where I can buy the suit exactly as it is portrayed in those pictures. I found an online Charro store from Mexico where they make them the traditional way by hand, but they only ship withing Mexico
Here are some pictures I found in that Flickr group:
"Ataque a la Diligencia" from mid 1850's. Just outside Mexico City
"Asalto a Diligencia" by Manuel Serrano, circa 1855
"Portal del Coliseo Viejo" from Casimiro Castro y J. Campillo's "Trajes Mexicanos" book 1855-1856.
A lancer fighting a French Zouave during the French invasion of Mexico in the 1860's
El Ranchero from the book ”Los Mexicanos Pintados por si Mismos” from 1842
Just killed a Frenchman or gringo
My friend also gave the name of a few Mexican movies that depict the era. I was only able to find 5 of them on Youtube. i dont understand Spanish very well, but they show how it was back then
"El ahijado de la Muerte" set in late 1840's early 1850's (
scroll to 0:28)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y01m5Zv841Q[/youtube]
"Bugambilia" set in the 1860's
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UERz3IvsT3U[/youtube]
"La Feria de las Flores" set in 1852 (
check minute 13:00 if you dont want to watch the whole thing)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqC-416ST8Y[/youtube]
"Camino de Sacramento" set in the early to mid 1840's (
scroll to minute 4:06)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyjJWgLGDro[/youtube]
"Historia de un gran amor" set in the late 1830's
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5q8_ypu7go[/youtube]