Dress Code In The Elizabethan Class System

The article titled, "Dressing for Creativity," states that allowing employees to dress casually at work, has many benefits. Those benefits include, boosting morale, creativity, and confidence. Arguing that just because a business has, "Casual Fridays," or a dress code that consist of, “sneakers, jeans, and T-shirts,” doesn't prove that the company or the company’s representatives are unprofessional or unproductive. Like the article explains that many new era companies began in “dorm rooms, garages, and basements,” appearance was never an issue for these now, “million-dollar businesses.” An

During the Elizabethan Era, there were a set of rules controlling which classes could wear which clothing called the Sumptuary Laws. The Sumptuary Laws controlled the colors and types of clothing a person could wear. This allowed an easy and immediate way to identify rank and privilege (Elizabethan Era | Clothing). Those found dressed in inappropriate clothing could be fined, lose property, lose rank, and even be killed (Elizabethan Dress

The social class for the Elizabethan Era was unique because of the different ways it was set up than from today. This social class has a very different type of hierarchy than any other social class that was ever made. Even though this social class was unique, it still needed the opportunity for improving the flaws. Certain levels of hierarchy needed a possibility for demotion for their class to move up in the rankings so they can get treated and respected better. The lower levels of the social classes didn’t have the best ways of living and suffered cruelty. The social class in the Elizabethan Era had a different type of hierarchy than we do today, the social class had the opportunity for improvement, and the possibility of demotion of the social class; therefore the social class could have had a revolution or change in the system.

Social class is linked to the way people dress every day. This is exemplified in Hans Christian Andersen’s short story, The Emperor’s New Clothes. How is

Dress codes exist for a reason. Sometimes it is for safety reasons but sometimes it’s just about what the employers or clients are willing to accept. If a certain look or appearance might make a client uncomfortable then the company will decide that such an appearance is inappropriate or might pose an unnecessary risk for that company.

When it comes to dress code, every individual has a different viewpoint for its implementation. There are clothes that could be fashionable to one person but seen as offensive to another. A dress code can be justifiable when put into a situation that really does require certain attire to be worn. It gives a sense of formality and distinguishes an individual apart from a group. This report seeks to compare and contrast the characteristics of school dress codes with that of dress codes in the workplace.

Upper middle, middle and lower, these are the modern day classes Americans are familiar with. But what many don’t know is between 1558-1603, the Elizabethan Era, the same social class system was already being used. The only difference was that they were more in depth. Although the social class system is still in place today during the Elizabethan era it was used to place people in categories based on their financial state, family history, and beliefs.

In the Elizabethan period, the law on what clothing people wore was so strict that people could have penalties such as fines, the loss of property, and even life (www.elizabethan-era.org.uk)! Clothing was very important to people in the Elizabethan period, and regardless of what social class people where in, what they wore mattered a lot to them and defined them. This applies to younger girls and younger boys, who spent a lot of time dressing nice. Young girls spent their morning putting on their many layers of clothing.

In Shakespeare's time, the English lived with a strong sense of social class -- of belonging to a particular group because of occupation, wealth, and ancestry. Elizabethan Society had a very strict social code at the time that Shakespeare was writing his plays. Social class could determine all sorts of things, from what a person could wear to where he could live to what jobs his children could get. Some families moved from one class to another, but most people were born into a particular class and stayed there. There was a chance of being granted a title by the crown. This was uncommon at the time and a relatively new thing for Europe where ancestry always defined nobility.

From the early history of the Roman Empire, within the beginnings of the Republic, we will examine the period when the reign of kings comes to an end and social classes become established among the populace. From this point, will see how the oppression of one class against another leads up to a breaking-point with the revolt of one against another.

Social classes play a major role in society and shape the roles of the people. Since the Elizabethan period began, the social classes were well structured with many influences, such as prestige or wealth. Many citizens found ways to elevate their status and become more successful citizens in the public. The social class structure in the Elizabethan Era was thought to be strict and very well organized, yet still had many opportunities and flaws which lead to changes in citizens’ lives.

Elizabethan Era Social Classes Imagine being labeled from the day you were brought into this Earth as one just like those before you, being treated like those before you, and acknowledged like those before you. The construction of Elizabethan social classes were the result of categorization, The Monarch, Nobility, Gentry, Merchants, Yeomanry, and Laborers were the six primary divisions during the age (Wood 2015). This was the time of royalty and wealth when everyone wanted to rise in power and class. Queen Elizabeth I was the monarch and leader of all power during the era, she contributed to many important changes and improvements of the time, the Golden Age was crowned and the advancement of English literature and poetry excelled (Wood 2015).

The people who lived during the Elizabethan Era were not allowed to wear whatever they like or desired. Their Fashion choices had to be followed by a strict law! The English people chose to establish social classes by the colors they wore and this had an affect on costumes used in theatre. Queen Elizabeth I followed the sumptuary laws, which was only certain classes were consent to wear specific fabric and colors. Therefore in plays the actors could only wear certain colors for their costumes that displayed what role and class their character was in. The clothes worn during this era was a result of Queen Elizabeth’s sumptuary laws, which had an affect on costumes used in plays, and each color a person wore had a significant meaning.

The term, “Elizabethan Era” is considered as English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign (1558–1603). The Social Classes in order from the highest class to the lowest are: Monarchy, Nobility, Gentry, Merchants, Yeomen, and Laborers. These classes are determined by their fame, wealth, skills, and even birth. If you were part of the Monarchy you were the ruler of the nation and their family; usually King or Queen. Life as a Monarch was very Spectacular because you were pampered and had to do none of the cooking and cleaning of the house, your only job was to rule the nation. You were always dressed nice and were wealthy. Anything you wanted you got without complaints. Everyone looked up as you and envied you because you were royal. The Nobility

The Elizabethan Era is the period during reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603) in England. It is also time during English literature, poetry, and theatre flourished and the famous composer, William Shakespeare. Fashion, basically, was part of the social order and maintained by a law related to it called “Statutes of Apparel”. The law stating the type of clothes and colours those allowed to own and wear.