Tudor Clothes for the Poor
The Sumptuary Laws were designed to limit the spending of Tudor people on clothes and to maintain the social structure of the Tudor Class System. Inexpensive materials and fabrics including wool, linen and sheepskin were limited to low status clothing of the poor. In 1571 a law was passed in which ordered that every male was required to wear a woollen cap on Sundays and on holidays in order to help England’s wool trade, however royalty and the nobility were excused from obeying this law.
The poor needed clothes to keep warm. They wore any clothes they could find or were given. Usually clothes were made of wool and were very simple. The colours were very dull and inexpensive. |
For the poor, fashion did not change at all. They wore loose-fitting clothes which were made from woollen cloth. Most men wore trousers made of wool and a tunic which came down to their knees. Women wore a dress of wool that extended down to the ground. They often wore an apron over their dresses and a cloth bonnet on their heads.
An interesting fact is that the taller the hat the more important the man was. The following table shows the clothes of the poor:
The poorer people wore clothes made of rough woollen cloth, or coarse cotton, called fustian. A peasant or workman had a shirt, loose breeches and leggings bound crosswise with straps. He often had a belted jerkin on top. A farmer wore a leather doublet and hose (trousers). Cloaks were worn in cold weather.
Peasant women and servants wore a dress with a fairly short skirt and an apron. Their stockings were made of cloth and tied above the knee. Caps were made of white wool.
People could not buy already made clothes during that time. All clothes were made by hand by sewing-women.
Servants were usually in blue, and wore their master's badge in silver on the arm.
Tudor children wore exactly what their parents wore only smaller. Whatever rank/status/class their parents were that was the status they were and as a result they had to dress that way.
Peasant women and servants wore a dress with a fairly short skirt and an apron. Their stockings were made of cloth and tied above the knee. Caps were made of white wool.
People could not buy already made clothes during that time. All clothes were made by hand by sewing-women.
Servants were usually in blue, and wore their master's badge in silver on the arm.
Tudor children wore exactly what their parents wore only smaller. Whatever rank/status/class their parents were that was the status they were and as a result they had to dress that way.