Fashion in the Tudor Era

              Ostentation was the hallmark of the Tudor Era

The richest materials were lavishly embroidered and studded with precious stones. Critics of the day complained that women walked about with the worth of two manors around their necks. Although it is difficult to make an accurate conversion where money is concerned, when a country manor could be built for £5,000 and two dresses could cost £1,500, this is easily understood, even by today's standards. The custom, back then, was to allow virgins to expose their breasts, so a great deal of jewellery was displayed. Married women were expected to be dressed more modestly.

Over a period of 118 years fashion altered. The fashion for women during Elizabeth 1's reign look extremely painful --- the whole torso was 'nipped in' and the bodices worn had the narrowest point almost on the pelvis. From hip to heel, skirts spread wide, held out by stiffly starched petticoats, or a wire cage called the farthingale.

Much of this particular fashion is seen in the numerous paintings of the time. Men's clothes were every bit as extravagant as the women's. Enormous sleeves and breeches stuffed with wood or bran, and the slightly obscene 'codpiece' which was often jewelled and even embroidered to draw attention to the wearer's viritlity, make the men of the Tudor Era really stand out in history. It was known that a man would pawn an estate in order to buy any eye-catching jewel --- for his cap !

    Tudor fashion stands out in English history !