8-1Fashion

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It is stated and thought that Elizabethan Era clothing was really exciting and beautiful, and it was. But this is only true for the wealthier classes. The people of Elizabethan England were not allowed to wear certain clothing due to their social status. The richer women wore gowns, hats, corsets, underwear, collars, ruffs and shoes. Elizabethan Men's Clothing was doublets (a close fitting men’s jacket or top) breeches or trousers that ended above the knee, underwear, collars, ruffs, hats and shoes. The clothing could get very heavy sometimes, as one had so many undergarments and over layers! =====

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Not only was it said that poorer people couldn’t wear some types of clothing, there were also laws that restricted what classes wore what! The Elizabethan Sumptuary Clothing Laws controlled behavior and to ensure that a specific class structure was maintained! The government had to make sure that only some social levels wore what they were supposed to. English Sumptuary Laws governing the clothing that Elizabethans wore were well known by all of the English people. The penalties for violating Sumptuary Laws could be harsh - fines, the loss of property, loss of title and even death! =====

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Hair was also a significant issue. The richer people such as the queen had very intricate, complicated hair. Elizabethan hair styles for   women were designed to copy or duplicate the upper class fashions of the day. Ruffs, or ruffles (lace or tulle intricate and small, feminine designs), were in high fashion and during the Elizabethan era these became more elaborate and were constructed on gauze wings which were raised at the back of the head In __Elizabeth’s London__, Picard says, “These extraordinary contraptions set off the sitter’s head in portraits of the time…Everyone wore them, women and men, working people and courtiers.” The ruffs, or collars, framed the face and dictated the hairstyles of the age which were generally short for men (at the beginning of the Elizabethan era) and swept up look was required for women”. A frizzy hairstyle was also one of the popular styles for women! Women kept their hair long and the full natural beauty of their long hair was displayed by the young women of the era. The long flowing hair of a young girl was a sign of a non-married lady or a virgin and the favored hairstyle for a bride on her wedding day. An Elizabethan bride would adorn her hair with fresh flowers. Once a woman achieved the married status she wore her hair swept up. Ladies took much pride in their hair. The fashion was very light hair, as Queen Elizabeth herself had. =====

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The picture above was found at: Evans, A. "Elizabethan Era Vs. The 21st Century a Humorous point of View." //hubpages.com//. 2008. 20 Apr 2009 . =====