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Pancho Villa Costume Ideas

Francisco "Pancho" Villa was a Mexican bandit, revolutionary, general and political leader who ruled many northern Mexican states in the early years of the last century. Although he was a murderer and a thief, Villa became something of a folk hero in northern Mexico for stealing from the rich to give to the poor and for eluding the forces of oppressive Mexican rulers. A Pancho Villa costume might vary from the most rustic peasant clothing to that of a Mexican general, depending on which stage of Villa's life is being depicted.
  1. Peasant

    • A depiction of Villa's early life would require a very simple costume -- a loose white shirt and slacks. He would have very few accessories -- perhaps not even shoes. Villa's early life was very poor. He worked in the fields and lacked the means to buy the lavish clothing he favored in later life.

    Bandito

    • The iconic image of Pancho Villa has him wearing a broad-brimmed sombrero, a uniform and two bandoliers crossed over his chest. In this phase of his life, Villa is almost always wearing boots and may be accurately depicted carrying a rifle.

    General

    • When he ruled much of northern Mexico, Villa was photographed in the full regalia of a Mexican general. He wore the visor cap and high-collared general's uniform common during WWI -- although he added his own flair by combining them with thigh-high leather boots.

    Politician

    • Pancho Villa was more a warlord than a politician, yet he moved in political circles on both sides of the border. In this incarnation, Villa often wore a tweedy three-piece suit with an ascot or bow tie. He was sometimes photographed wearing a pith helmet or a fedora with such an ensemble.

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