# clothes **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 7, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clothes/355767 "2006-05-07T16:07:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clothes/355767/21 "2006-05-09T02:14:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > OK, I guess if he specifically said that some of them wear “a leaf”, as opposed to the others who are naked, that’s good enough to convince me. Interesting, though, that some of them did still wear something… Is any reason known or suggested for that? Menstrual hygeine, perhaps? It’s also interesting that they had cotton cloth (or something which would resemble it to Columbus’ eyes), if they were putting it to so little use. Hm, I vaguely remember reading in a book on anthropology that many new world native groups isolated the women in a hut where essentially they sat and menstruated onto the ground _or_ a ‘mat’ of moss/plant fibers and stayed out of the way of men so they wouldn’t ‘contaminate’ the men or their tools. I do remember thinking that it would be heavenly to be able to basically hang out alone and have someone bring me meals and I wouldn’t have to interact with anybody when i am on the rag. I just want to be left alone to cramp in peace. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clothes/355767/22 "2006-05-09T04:27:06Z")
Heck, for at least 5 months out of the year, I don’t “need” clothing here in Chicago for protection from the elements. Or I wouldn’t if I didn’t sunburn. Didn’t the ancient Egyptians go mostly naked? The rich ones wore transparent linen skirts or shifts, but I’ve read several cites that all children and slaves and many poor folks went naked. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clothes/355767.md?page=1)