Slits were cut in the garment to reveal the inner slashing fabric which was pulled through to form puffs. Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. The middle class in Elizabethan times were mainly rich people. People in the lower class: poor people such as peasants, servants, marketpeople, and beggars. If found to be able-bodied and capable of work, faced execution. The act required anyone holding a position in public office to pledge allegiance to the monarchy as head of church and state. The Queen c. 1580. Get started for FREE Continue. Create your account. When Elizabeth was young, she often wore clothing that covered her from head to toe. The Elizabethan period in costume design refers to that time encompassed by the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (from 1558-1603) during the Renaissance. Fine needlework and embroidery also decorated upper class women's clothing. Young, unmarried women wore lower bodice necklines. Indigo colour stood for supremacy, significance and richness. Even the precious metal gold was reserved for ranks higher than barons and the family of the King and Queen. Clothes for men were meant to convey everything about them in the era of Queen Elizabeth. Refusing to take an oath resulted in a charge of treason, punishable by death. The poor people used cotton or woollen clothes. They were also not allowed coloured shirts but only some work of black embroidery. In Elizabethan England one's clothing provided an observer with instant knowledge of one's social status. These laws were also known as the Statutes of Apparel.It was basically done to clearly demarcate the social structure existing in the Elizabethan era. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Expensive breeches were made of silk, stain, velvet, leather, and even delicate silks. She is also a published author of several books and a parenting anthology. Middle Class breeches would be made out of a finer wool. Also, lower class people had a limitation of color becasue they couldn't afford expensive dyes, they used natural plants to get the color. This means that the boy must be in between the ages of three and seven, because he has already had . The orange colour was made from materials or dyes that were easily found in the human habitat. Find out if you're better suited to warm, cool, or neutral color tones. The Lord Chancellor, President of The Privy Council, Treasurer and bearers of the Privy seal were allowed to velvet, satin, silk and fur for shades other than purple. Criminals convicted of treason could also be sent to the rack, a device used to tear ligaments apart, or face needles stuck underneath their fingernails. Linen fabrics after repeated washes became soft and breathed easily. Her eyes are so dark and the irises seem to take up her entire eye, which makes her look very angry and harsh, I wonder if that was intended to demonstrate her power. For their hair styles, they could ahve longer thair than beore because the Queen allowed them to grow their hair longer. Men of the times usually wore breeches, underclothing, hats and doublets. For more serious crimes, such as treason, the punishment was death by hanging. 5 0 obj See more ideas about renaissance costume, historical clothing, renaissance fashion. Laws were enforced to ensure respect for social classes, and punishment for treason was swift. The pink colour was made from the Madder roots. Finally, the peasantry class was often unable to earn income and purchase food. Here is more information about meaning of the colour Green. Discover how the Elizabethan class structure worked and how it was maintained. . Modesty of the woman was admired by many, however fashion was beginning to emulate a more seductive look during the later part of herreign. What did middle class men wear in the Elizabethan era? Faith's Church in Bacton, Herefordshire. The lower classes of the Elizabethan era were restricted to wear elementary material. Linen obtained from the flax plant . Doublet with sleeves. FasHION-. Instead, they usually pinned up their hair in order to sport as many jewels, tiaras, scarves, or plumes they could cram into the space. . However, removal from the noble class would require the act of committing a serious crime, such as treason. Art, architecture, food, clothing, and entertainment were all refreshed. It was common practice for landlords to part with some of their valuable . Known as the Golden Ages, the Elizabethan era established social rules that came with severe penalties if ignored. Women commonly had basic medical skills, spun wool, and knit. Lemon jui. 45, City Hall Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110. Damask is basically just one color with the patterns made solely by the contrast in light reflection from different weave structures. Their. The concept of the unique fashion designer who was a celebrity in their own right came much later. Women also plucked their eyebrows as thin, arching eyebrows were seen as beautiful. Preview site, 3 days ago Dolores Monet (author) from East Coast, United States on July 03, 2012: Hi, Textiles - I put the image up there as it is labeled "Italian polychrome damask, 14the century," found while researching fabrics. A kercher or kerchief, a triangular piece of muslin tied around the head and was worn under a hat. Not even close! . Almost every person in middle class wore hats in public, and both men and women enjoyed jewelry accessories. Cloaks came in varying lengths - some covered as far as the waist, others as far as the knee and some reached the floor. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, from 1558 to 1603, children were dressed like miniature adults, in the same style of clothing with variations according to social class. During the Victorian era (1789-1914), fashion was based on social status. Elizabethan Era Clothing, Costume: Men, Women, Kids. History of Britain from Roman times to Restoration era. The Second Act of Supremacy was passed in 1558 and was used to restore supremacy to the Queen over the Church of England. The subjects range from the type of clothing regarded as Upper Class Fashion - rich, sumptuous materials and elegant styles to clothes worn by the lower classes using basic . Most shoes of the time were made the same for both feet. Elizabethan costume - V shaped bodice, ruff, and split skirt with matching sleeves. People from the lower class consisted of the commoners, peasants, servants, and beggars. One of the most imortant items were ruffs(large, fan-like collars that were worn by both men&women), There was division even within the upper class, -Queen Elizabeth and her relatives would wear clothing that used gold or gold trimming. I recently read that during this period pearls were highly valued and the most expensive items of jewellery. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Middle class men wore clothes made of fur or velvet. As in the Middle Ages, the fabrics used to create garments of the Elizabethans were wool and linen. The Elizabethan lower class wore clothing made mainly of wool, cotton, linen, and sheepskin. ZARA Taipei 101 Store is a high-end fashion chain that offers trendy house-brand clothing, shoes and accessories. They usually dressed according to their social and financial status. As the population increased during the Elizabethan era, so did the peasantry population. Adding more to the legal orders, rules were specified for clothing as per the ranks of the gentlemen. The reign of Elizabeth I was one of the most remarkable periods of English history. The Elizabethan Era. The most extravagant fabrics such as purple satin and gold embroidered cloth were reserved for royalty. Queen Elizabeth I maintained order by establishing and enforcing a social class system. The Elizabethan period in costume design refers to that time encompassed by the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (from 15581603) during the Renaissance. A fashion item for men at the time was the codpiece. This law also provided for the type of fabric, colours and the materials that were to be used whilst making clothes depending upon the social rank of the people. After defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588, Elizabeth I maintained unity within a previously divided country. However, Elizabeth wanted to remain true to her Virgin Queen identity. Almost every person in middle class wore hats in public, and both men and women enjoyed jewelry accessories. They were not allowed to wear any elegant or sumptuous material. A caul was an attractive hair net or snood, worn simply or festooned with decorations such as pearls or beads. Queen Elizabeth was known as the 'Virgin Queen, and had no heir across her forty-four year reign. Pattens were tied on over shoes that held the foot up off the ground, protecting the shoe from dirt, mud, or debris. The Sumptuary Laws. The Elizabethan Era was known as the 'Golden Age' due to the mass expansion of arts and culture. She was a moderate and tolerant leader who has her reign named after her as the Elizabethan era. Between 15681574, Sumptuary laws (an old fashioned method of keeping people in their place by regulating attire) required all women, unless gentlewomen, the wives of nobility, to cover their hair. Queen Elizabeth was one of the five monarchs of the House of Tudor and was a successful ruler of her time. I agree with you about the amount of clothing required in the Elizabethan period as well, I dont know if I would be able to actually attend any social gatherings if it took that long to prepare myself and then remove all the garments later! English history of Queen Elizabeth Is reign (15581603). They were rich and powerful and were the smallest of all the social classes. The blue colour was normally worn by those persons who worked as servants. They were poor and could not afford expensive fabrics and dyes. The king himself and his family were the only ones who had the freedom to wear any piece of an outfit, however, the shade of purple and material of silk was mandatory for them. See more about what colour Black meant. Historians often . Perfume was popular for both men and women and almost necessary at a time when bathing was rare. Ruffs were made up of linen that was stiffened with starch were worn around the neck by the nobles. This is so interesting! Yellow colour meant rejuvenation or hope. Womens cloaks were fastened at the neck and covered the shoulders but some of the men's cloaks were flung back over the . The Queen also had the authority to sentence the convicted to being burned at the stake. Question: Were there any strict rules about clothing in Elizabethan England? . Pieces of under- and overclothes were usually interchangeable, allowing a lady to wear one type of sleeves one day and a different type the next, while perhaps wearing the same forepart. . The Bible describes the White colour as Holy. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Upper class men dressed similarly to the women, but they wanted to look masculine, so they wore clothes that had broad shoulders, broad hips, and narrow waists (their outifts looked slightly like a suit of armor), People in the middleclass: mainly composed of rich people. The yeomanry social class was wealthy but still required to work with their hands. The dress and clothing of Elizabethan women was a series of different layers. Smock-frocks and chemises were made of linen. The violation of such laws resulted in fines, title, and loss of property or could even lead to death. This colour even symbolizes modesty and plainness. When the queen fancied a particular fashion concept, she brought in foreign tailors and dressmakers, or imported garments from other countries. Jacobean Era Clothing & Fashion | What was Jacobean England? View detail Children's Fashion. Social change during the 16th century was inspired by increased population and economic inflation. Gender Roles Quotes in Much Ado About Nothing, NY Regents Exam - Global History and Geography: Test Prep & Practice, High School World History: Tutoring Solution, AP European History: Homework Help Resource, High School US History: Homework Help Resource, High School US History: Tutoring Solution, NY Regents Exam - US History and Government: Help and Review, Create an account to start this course today. The edges of the skirt could be adorned with jewelled borders. Elizabethan era's middle class women could wear clothing made out of broadcloth, linen, They were quite durable and did not require any hemming. Find Your Perfect Shade. In late sixteenth century and early seventeenth century England, women had to adhere to the Sumptuary Laws. Women generally wore gowns with corsets . 10 Aug. 2015. New styles were brought in from other countries. Members of the monarchy were at the top of the social class structure, while the poor were at the bottom. Linen obtained from the flax plant was comfortable and could be laundered easily. The Elizabethan era had six main social classes: monarchy, nobility, gentry, merchant, yeomanry, and peasantry. Upper class fashion generally used velvets, satin, furs, silks, lace, cottons, and taffeta. When the middle class figured out a way to copy the fashion of the upper class in a cheaper version, the upper class would just change the fashion. \ The middle class in Elizabethan times were mainly rich people. Ceruse was a mixture of white lead and vinegar used as face makeup that made a woman look very white. For instance, gold and silver embellished garments could only be worn by the royal family. People from the lower class consisted of the commoners, peasants, servants, and beggars. The black colour indicated authority and control. Elizabeth I also passed the Act of Supremacy to re-instate the Church of England. Most people lived in the country. Just like the nobility, lower class people were restricted in their clothing. Ruffs were made of fine muslin or lace, or muslin trimmed with lace and often paired with matching cuffs at the wrist. These were laws that provided strict clothing guidelines in order to limit the expenditure by people as well as to create a social hierarchy. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Queen Elizabeth I was born a princess. And, I am thinking that brocade has a bit more shine to it than damask. View detail What did Merchants wear in the Elizabethan era. Slashing was an important trend in Renaissance fashion during the Tudor age. I appreciate your input. What were they made of? They wore a short top called chemise which would protect the lower clothes from sweat. Answer: A pale face indicated high status. Pillory required the convicted criminal to stand with hands placed firmly inside a wood plank as the crowd threw items at them. This colour meant a new start and even symbolized nature. The religious divide was between the Catholic and Protestant religions. As the division between the wealthy and poor increased, the government became concerned that the wealthy were not being accurately assessed for taxes and levies.