Northern Plains Woman's Breastplate Kit

Product Details

Crazy Crow Trading Post's Northern Plains Woman's Breastplate Kit lets you make this common dance regalia accessory worn by women with both buckskin and cloth dresses among the Northern Plains tribes in the Western United States and Canada (most notably the Sioux, Northern Cheyenne & Arapaho tribes). Typically made with bone hairpipe and glass or brass beads, it is worn over the shoulders, hanging down below the knees in front and two-thirds of the way to the waist in back of the wearer, providing a distinctive addition to the outfit.

Of course, size and configuration of the Northern Plains Woman's Breastplate varies according to the taste of the wearer, but they are typically about 20 bones wide, with some featuring beads only at the top and bottom, while others are composed of alternating bones and beads. These Northern Plains Woman's Breastplate were originally in vogue between 1895 and 1925, with their peak of popularity coming around 1910. The style fell out of favor for some time, but has now been revived as the modern northern woman's breastplate, evolving directly from these earlier styles and differing little from its earlier counterparts.