Comanches

In dressing up for an occasion, fine clothes were valued by the Comanches. A case for their attire was made from rawhide. The shape of the case was similar to an envelope and it had a tie-down flap. In this wardrobe container, a young man's blanket, leggings, moccasins, and wrappers for his braids were stored. Feathers or his war bonnet would be separately kept in a tube shaped bag. The man's bag also held his war paint and brushes. The tubular bag was worn slung along the waistline while traveling on horseback. If the need came for the young man to look at his very best, he was indeed ready.

According to the Comanche elder Frank Chekovi, the case storing the best clothes was decoratively painted by women using walnut dye and was scented with perfume.

Remarkable picture of the Comanche man named Wockneahtooah. Also known as Judd Komah, he was a son of the Mexican captive Old Man Komah or Chasuway. He wears a shoulder fringed buckskin shirt with custom fitted cuffs and sleeves. A bead bandolier is on the left shoulder and his braids are handsomely wrapped. Comanche moccasins and leggings with decorated brass tacks are shown. He also wears a plume on his shoulder and a feather in his hair. Judd's hand grasps one fan and another fan rests near his moccasins. Photograph courtesy of Alice Snearly and Lon Kelley. Additional information from the publication Comanches in the New West 1895-1908.