>  I'm wondering about that "mourning" name, though.  Is anyone familiar with
> Spanish mourning customs of the period, who could tell me why on earth such
> a gown would be labeled thus?


I wonder if it's not because it was reminiscent of a nun's habit?
http://books.google.co.nz/books?id=6mAIAAAAQAAJ
Mongia, f.f. a monastery
Mongil, f. m. a sort of mourning weed for a woman, also the habit of any nun.
Mongil, f. m. the estate or condition of a nun
Mongil allibaxo, a long woman's gown or garment all of a piece.

And Minsheu (1599)
http://www.ems.kcl.ac.uk/content/proj/anglo/dict/pro-anglo-dict-main.html
Mongia,f.monkerie
Mongil,m.a monks garment, a mourning garment for a woman
Mongilon, a mourning garment for a woman.

In the men's section there are some religious themed garments as well.

Michaela de Bruce
http://glittersweet.com
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