Women and girls living in the Colonies got most of their ideas on what to wear from England. The English got their ideas from France. The French had fashion designers and royalty who came up with the ideas. French Court fashion led the way in determining what women around the world would wear. Regular women would take the ideas of French royalty, and make them into things they could afford, make, and wear while doing whatever it was they did.
(Portrait: People learned through word of mouth, letters, travelers, and periodicals what was being worn abroad. When they came to town or even came to the store when they lived in town, it was a big even to catch up on events of the day)