Essay on Clothes and Fashion of the Elizabethan Era

Have you ever wondered what people in the Elizabethan Era wore? Fashion was just as important in those days as it is to some people today. What people were wearing mattered to others, and even the government. During the Elizabethan Era clothing, accessories, and cosmetics were all a part of daily life.

Women often times wore gloves made of cherverill, silk and velvet. The Elizabethan time period was known for their exquisite sense of fashion. (Women’s Fashion 1) Although Elizabethan fashion had multiple tricks of the trade, modern day fashion has only few tricks worth sharing.

The Elizabethan Era was a time where everything flourished. After the Black Plague, England entered a time called the Renaissance. Family life during the time was simple and on a routine. Each day seemed more and more liked the day before. Each member of the family had a different impact on the community and society. Ordinary life in England consisted of being with family, working everyday, going to school, and eating food.

Ever wonder where the strange fashion choices of society’s favorite Disney movies originated? It might be a bit of an understatement to say that the apparel of men during the Elizabethan Era was odd, but each piece of their outfit had a crucial role to play in their daily life. Clothing worn during the Elizabethan Era was greatly dictated by the Sumptuary Laws, the wealth of the individual, and fashion trend of neighboring countries.

There are cheaper materials that don't last as long and there are more expensive materials that last longer. Unlike today, in Elizabethan Time the people didn't chose what fabrics to wear. Just like the colors it depended on their status and rank. "Elizabethan Nobles and Upper classes wore clothing made of velvets, furs, silks, lace, cottons and taffeta" ("Material & Fabrics used in Elizabethan Era Clothing"). "The Elizabethan Lower Classes had to wear clothing made of wool, linen and sheepskin however, silk, taffeta and velvet trimmings were allowed" ("Material & Fabrics used in Elizabethan Era Clothing"). Just like breaking the law of colors people would also get punished for breaking the laws of fabrics and materials. In the Elizabethan time the rank of a person made a huge impact on the clothing they would

Clothing expression in medieval Europe, like all other forms of artistic expression at this time, found it's biggest outlet in the ecclesiastical field, as this was where all the money was to be found. The churches employed all the best builders and craftsmen in creating their great cathedrals, and art works. In clothing, the church dictated what sorts of materials were made, and brought into the area, what colors were in use, and what styles were used, influencing the secular as well as ecclesiastical dress. In the feudal system only great Barons and their families wore fine cloths, as clothing was a symbol of rank and importance. Each family made their own clothes, so fashion was very individualistic in style, and each family had their own characteristics. With an increase of wealth in the area, and the beginning of the crusades, new elaborate styles were introduced into the scene. Fashions became strange, and grotesque in nature reflecting the constant struggles and wars of the time, as fantasy and the grotesque generally influence social costumes accompanying times of war. Women in their headgear actually wore huge horns, like an ox, that towered above them and supported a veil, and men's shoes were peaked and extended six inches in front of them for common men, and a foot for gentlemen, and two feet for noblemen.

Elizabeth was a different kind of Queen: quick-witted, clever and able to use feminine wiles to get her own way. Elizabeth could be as ruthless and calculating as any king before her but at the same time she was vain, sentimental and easily

Depending on their job, wealth, and other factors, clothing people wore may have varied. But it was not uncommon for women to wear dresses(Some more high end than others ) or cotton print shirts and skirts. It was common to see a man in a bit more casual clothes rather than suits almost all around like previous decades.

Lastly, each color, during this era, had a meaning and also represented which class a person was in. “Elizabethan clothing, material, and fabrics used in Elizabethan Era was extremely important” because clothes represented more than just how you looked it demonstrated your

Kenley Collins, Ariana Grande’s fashion designer, would not be able survive as a medieval tailor. Tailors were hired to make all kinds of clothing from underwear to silk gowns. People in the middle ages often wore tunics, togas, trousers, and sandals. Women often wore long sleeved linen dresses called chemises and men often wore gowns. Even though tailors had a difficult peasant life they made clothes for the nobility and influenced fashion.

In the Elizabethan period, women were subordinate to men. They were considered to be ‘inferior' beings who were controlled by their husbands, fathers or any other men in the family. Women were not allowed to hold their own opinions, views or lifestyles. Men had control of everything, some of these included money, politics, work, children, women and home.

All the character were wearing normal clothing nothing special. In the first scene where Hamlet is approaching the press conference. He pulls up in a hat and loose fitting jeans he has this hipster type of look. A complete three sixty from the medieval clothing that he was in when Shakespeare wrote the play. Through the play he is wearing normal clothing that would have been popular in the 2000. For Ophelia she was dressed casual but her hair was in braids which is something that women would have worn in later years. I liked how they incorporated that in the movie. Claudius was far dressed from the typical king clothing he did not have a crown or anything like that. The entire movie he was dressed in a fancy suit and a suitcase which is the modern version of a

There was a very clear line in between the wealthy and the poor. Peasants during the era wore layers of belted tunics, cloaks, hats, and boots or clogs for warmth. These types of clothing would never be seen on the wealthier class of people. Many fashion trends from the renaissance time period carried on from time period to time period and are very prevalent still today.

During the Regency era appearance was extremely important. If a woman arrived at a party under or overdressed she would be mocked and ridiculed for days by other women. Since propriety was valued as well, those who were dressed scandalously would be avoided by others to safeguard their reputation. Appearance was also and indicator of social status and wealth, which determined whether or not a person was

Things like clothing varied from each period. While during the Medieval times, it seemed as if the fashionable look was narrow and ease of the garment, whereas in the Renaissance, they used extravagant cloths and furs, along with padding for a broad silhouette. During the Renaissance, clothing molded you into the fashionable shapes and sizes.