Historical Peasant Woman Outfit: Unboned Stays, Bumroll & Corded Petticoat Sew Historically In the mid 19th century, little girls wore bonnets mainly for practicality and tradition. The bonnets protected them from the sun and were seen as a proper part of a young girl's outfit. Colonial Pioneer Womens Bonnet Revolutionary War Red and Gingham Pilgrim Women Bonnets Sun Hats Dress Up Costume Accessories Michaels Old Fashioned Dresses Old Dress Styles