Clothing In The Renaissance Era

Clothing was also an important part in men's lives. The Sumptuary laws implied to not only the women, but to the men too. Men also wore many layers, some similar to the women. According to Linda Alchin, "The fashions were designed to give the impression of a small waist-especially desired by the women but also emulated by men" (Elizabethan Upper Class Fashion). They wore most of the following under layers: a shirt, stockings, a codpiece, and a corset. Then, most of the following over layers: a doublet, separate sleeves, breeches, a belt, a ruff, a cloak, and boots or flat shoes. Men's clothing fashions were related to those of women's due to the similar, and many layers.

The Renaissance was a period of many changes in Europe. The culture, the technology and the philosophical ideas to name a few. This movement circa the end of the 13th century to about the 1600’s. After the medieval times when Europe saw their worst times, The Renaissance was a period of “re-birth” and enlightenment. The renaissance can be divided into two big “houses”; The Italian and the Northern renaissance. The Italian Renaissance as the name says, it was the movement within the Italian peninsula while the Northern renaissance was the rest of Europe. Even though these movements happened within the same time frame, they had some differences among them and each was unique in its own way. The Italian renaissance artists portrayed mostly classical

The Elizabethan Era took place from 1558 to 1603. The Elizabethan era is also known as the Golden age and was during Elizabeth I reign. This epoch in English history witnessed many threats and changes in the tide of social, political and artistic life in England. This epoch was during the time of the Renaissance and was an age of exploration and expansion abroad. This was the last period before England joined a union with Scotland.

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.

Of all aspects of Elizabethan culture, the most distinctive is probably the clothing and fashion. A lot of the clothing varied to whether they were a member of the nobility, upper class or the poor. But even if a women or man was wealthy or poor, they were not allowed to wear whatever they wanted. It was a highly fashioned age that prized a look that was artificial, elaborate, and striking. The style of clothing of the Elizabethan Era are easily recognizable today and popular with designers of historic costume.

Queen Elizabeth 1 is known for her era, and also her refusal to get married, on the subject, she is quoted say,"I would rather be a beggar and single than be queen and married." She was strong, and knew what she wanted, this also showed in the arts, and how they changed, during her period. During the Elizabethan era, the three main signifagant characteristicts are all in the arts, which Eliabeth 1 changed, and helped develop greatly. Art, fashion, and music are the most signifagant, and will be discussed in that order. Elizabeth 1's era changed not only her time, but the present day, and after reading about the arts, that should be evident and obvious.

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.

Women’s fashion in the Elizabethan era for women with a high status was a very elaborate process. The garments worn were highly expensive, and a main silhouette of the era was the definition of a small waist and large shoulders. Many of the outer clothing had slashes to expose some of the undergarments to show off

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

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.

The Renaissance period was a cultural movement that started in the 1400 's in Florence, Italy which expanded throughout most of Europe, and lasted into the early years of the 16th century. The perception of what was regarded as beautiful changed, women did not burden themselves with thoughts like gaining extra weight. Women in the Renaissance Era were in several ways much more natural than the women of today.

During this period your life is determined by your gender or your wealth. Their clothing varied among their social classes, with that being said a person who wears old or lame clothes would be in the lower class such as farmers and the people who wear nice or extravagant clothes would be in the higher class such as nobles. Today people can wear anything that they want to wear; a poor person can have stylish clothes and the rich could wear old or dirty clothes. Their entertainment was extremely important to the people who lived in the Elizabethan era. Elizabethan entertainment was popular when there was something to celebrate and it often occurred nightly, but there were different types of entertainment among the classes in England. Rich would do things which the poor couldn’t do or afford such as watch plays, go hunting, jousts among knights, and more. The poor or the middle class would simply just listen to travelling musicians and actors or to watch public plays. Today rich could only have entertainment, because the poor has to work to feed themselves and has no spare money to do such lavish things such as watching movies, going to a basketball game, or go to a concert. During this period women were considered inferior to men and were not allowed to have a job, this required men to become the sole source of the family income and to represent it. They would usually work their whole life to provide for their family and to raise the social ranking or title. Today men and women were treated as equals and women could be the one to provide for the

The Renaissance time period took place during the 14th and the 16th centuries it began in Europe. The Renaissance was a time of art, open ideas, and new beginnings. Before this time there was the Middle Ages. Then it was not a good time at all, it was full of sickness, disease, death, and the plague it killed almost half of Europe’s population. After the plague slowly decreased the population in Europe started to grow. Lots of new things started to happen. Like Bankers Merchants, and Tradespeople had a new market for their services. People became wealthier and had more money to spend. People began to build much bigger houses and buy more expensive clothes and people became more interested in the art and liturature.

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.

Fashion is a media of expression of one’s identity from the medieval to modern ages. While other people would kill for a limited edition Louis Vuitton bag or a striking Versace couture gown, many people wouldn’t mind being fashionable as long as they have their body covered with cloth then they are good to go. But what is the reason behind this? Why do dresses cost more than a house? If you’re wondering, then is the status of fashion during the medieval ages same as the modern times? How about its purpose? According to Fox (1871) “fashion is and has been and will be, through all ages, the outward form through which the mind speaks to the material universe” (p. XX). Which is a clear fact knowing that the art of fashion was concerned with the