Tudor Clothes for Nobles and Royalty
In Elizabeth's reign the clothing at Court was the richest in English history. Ladies and gentlemen began to wear ruffs around their necks, made of white cambric and were sometimes held in place by wires.
Gentlemen wore padded breeches or trunks, which became so enormous that it was difficult to sit down. Their tight-fitting tunics, or doublets, were covered with fine embroidery and were often slashed to show the rich lining beneath. Pointed beards were also very fashionable during that time. Ladies' dresses were padded and made to stand out over a frame or hoop, which was fastened round the waist. The great skirt was stretched over a frame of whalebone called a farthingale. A wealthy merchant wore a long gown of dark, rich cloth, but compared with the courtiers they were very plainly dressed. |
The fashion of Rich Tudors was important. Their clothes were very elaborate. The rich wore fine quality wool unlike the poor who wore coarse wool. They used linen to make shirts and underwear. The rich were the only people who could afford cotton and silk clothes. Their clothes were also embroidered with silk, gold or silver thread which showcased their status and wealth. Rich Tudor women wore silk stockings and in the 16th century men wore short trouser-like garments called breeches. Rich men also wore tight fitting jackets called doublets which was worn underneath a jacket called a jerkin. Over the jerkin rich men would wear a gown, and later in the 16th century a cloak or cape. Men also wore stockings or woollen socks, which were called hose. Rich Tudor women would usually wear gloves as it showed that they treated their hands well and this represented their social hierarchy, as they didn't have to do any manual work. Rich women would also wear many layers of fabrics to show that they could afford many different fabrics. Duchesses, Marquises and Countesses wore gowns, kirtles, partlets, and sleeves. The colour they wore was purple and they were made of sable fur.
Knights, sons or heirs would wear silk, velvet, satin and gilt. The colour they wore were Royal Blue and/or a deep blue. They wore hats, bonnets, girdles, pantofles, gowns and cloaks, coats, jackets, jerkins, coifs and purses. |
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Tudor Kings and Queens wore clothes made from the most expensive materials such as satin, silk and velvet. They were also the only ones allowed to wear clothing in gold, purple, and crimson.
King Henry VIII had once been described as "The best-dressed sovereign in the world: his robes [were] the richest and most superb that [could] be imagined: and he put on new clothes every holiday." He also never lacked in abundance of fur and jewels to showcase his wealth and status. The Queen, Queen's mother, children, sisters and nuns were allowed to wear gowns, kirtles, partlets and sleeve. The colour that they usually wore was purple and silk. Kings, Kings mother, children, brethren and uncles would wear silk and the colour purple. They were allowed any type of clothing. |
Order in which clothing had to be put on:
Stockings, ear rings and shoes
Chemise - the main item of underwear
Petticoat - for extra warmth
Farthingale - stiffened with will or to give the triangular shape to the costume
Corset - stiffened with wood to flatten all lumps and bumps
Bumroll - worn on the hips to give extra flare to the skirt
Parlet - worn over the corset
Kirtle - the main underskirt
Gown - split at the from to reveal the kirtle. Sleeves were either sewn in or tied on
Stockings, ear rings and shoes
Chemise - the main item of underwear
Petticoat - for extra warmth
Farthingale - stiffened with will or to give the triangular shape to the costume
Corset - stiffened with wood to flatten all lumps and bumps
Bumroll - worn on the hips to give extra flare to the skirt
Parlet - worn over the corset
Kirtle - the main underskirt
Gown - split at the from to reveal the kirtle. Sleeves were either sewn in or tied on