Renaissance Clothing - Fashion in Elizabethan times
Renaissance clothing is characterized best by short upper garments among men and a trend of overall tight-fitting clothes. You can find countless examples of this in pictures in many books and videos.
Just as it is today, wealth and social rank was easily distinguished in the clothes and jewelry that men and women wore. Renaissance clothing was more of a public display and would validate what your status was. The funny thing was you didn’t even have to have that much money, as long as you carried yourself in a refined manner and wore the right clothes, you would be accepted. Along with that, the richer you were, the more expensive was the fabric that was used in the Renaissance clothing. Expensive fabrics used were silk, brocade, velvet and cotton. Darker colors of fabrics became popular to show off the embroidery or jewels that were often sewn onto the clothing.
The church played a role in Renaissance clothing by condemning those who focused too much on the fashion trends for being guilty of the sin of “vanity.” They easily applied this label to anyone who was wearing the latest fashion because they almost looked out of place next to those who were wearing older designs.
There were colors of Renaissance clothing that were given meanings. They were green, for love; gray, for sorrow; yellow, for hostility; blue, for fidelity; red, for nobility; and black and gray, for lower status people. A short, kind of square look characterized the men’s look. Men also wore hose and short breeches that were padded for fullness. They also wore broad toed shoes and caps that were wide-brimmed to match their Renaissance clothing. Women’s skirts and dress were pleated or even topped with pleated aprons. The neckline had a standing collar. This period also brought about a new trend to Renaissance clothing known as “slashing.” Slashing was where two layers of cloth were placed one over the other. The other was slashed to reveal the inner cloth. This was used in both men’s and women’s gowns as well as their shoes and caps.
Hair styles also played an important role in Renaissance clothing because during this period, as their clothes changed over time, so did their hair. A variety of beards, mustaches and hairstyles became popular and women would wear wigs and also shave their hairlines to give the appearance of having a high forehead.
There are Faires held today all around the world where individuals celebrate this period of time and dress up in costume, perform shows, and basically make you feel as if you’re a part of that era, even if just for a day. They’re a wonderful experience and if you ever have an opportunity to visit a Faire, I highly recommend it. Not only will you get to see some fabulous Renaissance clothing (costumes) in person, but it will make you appreciate this piece of history in an entirely different way.