Elizabethan Fashion Essay

“Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new.” (Fashion Quotes 1) The words once spoken by Henry David Thoreau are politically correct. People often look at Elizabethan‘s choice of fashion and ridicule everything about it from the hair, down to the stockings. As it appears, fashion has always been a broad topic of discussion in the world. Whether it is NY Fashion Week or a Macy’s fashion show, fashion is something that has always been an eye catcher. Fashion has been around for many years, and whether we know it or not, Elizabethan fashion has influenced the way modern fashion is today.

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.

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.

The era Renaissance itself was also a significant factor for this

The Elizabethan Era is often referred to as the Golden Age of England (A Changing View...). The Elizabethan Era, named after Queen Elizabeth I, was a time of change and discovery (Elizabethan Superstitions). Elizabeth ruled in a time of religious turmoil; both the Catholics and Protestants fought to be the official religion of England. (Elizabethan World View). Many people throughout England struggled to find the “correct” religion (Elizabethan World View). Religion was changing and so did science. During the late 1500’s science began to evolve; new ideas, concepts, and beliefs were starting to emerge (A Changing View). Magic was considered to be very similar to science in this era. The belief in magical creatures served as the roots for

This article’s purpose is to express the danger of breaking the law in England. Most of the punishments of our time are deemed cruel and unusual. The death penalty can no longer be enacted in cases of theft or highway robbery. The following paragraphs will describe the various instruments of punishment (torture) of the period.

The Elizabethan Age (1558- 1603) is an epoch in English history, remembered as a renaissance of classical ideals, naval triumph against the Spanish (which at the time were disliked and considered a rival kingdom) and international expansion. This generated a great wave of English nationalism. The era is marked by the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603), and is often hailed as the "Golden Age of England".

Fashion is a big part of many people's lives, but it is constantly changing and growing. In the Elizabethan time fashion was very different than it is today. For example trends and materials used have changed. The colors people wore told a lot about who they were, unlike today. Some parts of fashion have stayed pretty constant throughout the years. For example today and then there are known designers around the world. Also fashion still impacts lives greatly. So when looking at fashion throughout the years it is evident that materials, trends, color usage, designers, and the impact on society has greatly changed and is still changing.

The beginning of eighteenth century brought about the Pre-classical era and a need for freedom from the restrictions of the nobility. The age of Enlightenment came into force questioning the Catholic Church’s doctrine and the authorities. It was the age of reason where secular thought predominated over religious belief. French philosophes and the Enlightenment dominated the cultural life of Europe. (Damerow par 1)

Due to her greatly influential decisions, “the latter half of the sixteenth century in England was known as the Elizabethan Age” as quoted from A1. During her reign, she improved many of the government functions by adding trusted advisors, and made strict decisions that helped the workforce run more efficiently. William Cecil was one of Elizabeth’s closest advisors due to

People everywhere find self-expression through what they wear. Many people today are judged by what they wear. Although one doesn’t want it to, clothing can place you in a certain group or social class. Even 457 years ago, when the Elizabethan Era was recognized by its profound range of fashion, clothing showed wealth, inheritance, and social class. People today are allowed to wear what they desire, but during the Elizabethan Era many women were restricted from many fabrics or materials, colors, and patterns.

Fashion now is incomparable to the Elizabethan Era. This time period was ruled by Queen Elizabeth I, she became queen in the year 1558 until her death. Clothing wasn't just merely a trivial thing in the days of Elizabethan times. It was taken very seriously by the people for the reason that it controlled social order. In Addition, it provided information about the person wearing them.

The Elizabethan age was the beginning of consumer culture; clothing was the most obvious way of showing the new wealth. The Elizabethan fashion was different from our fashions of today. The class levels also differed in clothes. The higher classes having the better clothes of course, lower class had the less appealing attire. Elizabethan costume became lavish, looking better than any other period before it.

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.

What is Fashion? Fashion is a general term used to describe a style of clothing or practice used by people around the world. Fashion refers to anything that is a trend. Self-presentation is the most direct noticeable marker of fashion. Throughout history we have seen many changes in clothing, from the color, to the material used to make it. We have also seen the style in which clothing is made change drastically. Fashion communicates meanings that have individual and social significance. Society, cultures, gender and even political authority have impacted fashion over the years. Clothing styles characterize certain designs which represent the culture that wears the clothing. Designers continue to try to direct their ideas to a transforming