Fashion+and+Gender

= = = = Home | Elizabethan Fashion | flat

=Introduction= In the Elizabethan Era, people of both genders considered fashion to be an important part in their lives. People of both genders and of all classes put a significant amount of thought behind their outfit for the day. They wore fancy clothes, however, there were several differences between their clothing. Both women and men had to follow the Sumptuary Laws in their manner of dress. To know the specific information, see "Fashion and Class page".

= = =Women's Fashion/ Hair= == Women in the Elizabethan Era, especially members of the upper class and the royal family, wore wonderful clothes. However, to the modern eye, these fashions probably would seem a bit outrageous. One of the differences between women's fashion and men's fashion was that women had more layers of clothing than men did. Women wore about ten layers of underclothes and five layers of overclothes, while men typically wore only about four pieces of underclothing and about eight layers of outside clothing, including shoes and hats. Some of the layers worn by women include: The main person who influenced women's fashion of the Elizabethan Age was Queen Elizabeth I herself. Queen Elizabeth dressed to impress those of her country and others from different countries as well. She wore dresses and gowns of many different colors and some of her gowns were intricately hand embroidered with several varieties of colored thread and they were adorned with jewels such as rubies and sapphires. [|(source)] Because of the enthusiasm the Queen showed toward fashion, many other Elizabethan women wore the most fancy and intricate clothes they could wear in accordance with the Sumptuary Laws and their income. However, women always had to remember that their outfit could never outshine the Queen's outfit, because the Queen was always to be the most magnificently dressed person. Queen Elizabeth's personal fashion was greatly influenced by the other countries around Great Britain, such as France, Poland, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain. Much of her clothing came from different countries with different fashions. For example, she might have one day worn a Dutch cloak with a French gown of russet satin with a Spanish farthingale underneath all of her clothes. Queen Elizabeth truly was an interational fashionista. Naturally, because the Queen wore globally inspired clothes, the other women of Elizabethan Times followed suit, imitating the Queen by sporting the latest fashions from far-off countries. [|(source)] Another difference between the fashion of men and women was who designed and made the clothes that the people wore. The role of producing clothing was shared by both men and women. Less wealthy women would have typically made all of their clothes and all of their families clothes. However, more well-off folks would have bought or had clothes made for them from a tailor or seamstress. Women mainly spun wool and flax into thread, which was then passed on to the predominantly male tailors and weavers. [|(source)] The Elizabethan women had countless amounts of styles of hair. They enjoyed sweeping their hair up and having frizzy hairstlyes. This is also because the Queen preferred this fashion of hair; therefore, many other ladies followed this trend. Another popular hairstyle was just ot leave the hair long. Brides specifically preferred this style on their wedding day becasue it was a sign of virginity. ([|source]) = = = = =Men's Fashion/ Hair= Men's clothing were more simple than women's clothing. Their clothes were mostly involved in women's clothing. Unlike recent days, men in Elizabethan time wore various kind of clothings. Here are some examples: For men's fashion, the countries around England such as Germany, Spain, and France greatly influenced how the men of Shakespeare's England dressed. The different countried often borrowed fashions from other nations and incorporated styles from around Europe into their wardrobe. For example, the sleeve style that was popular in France at that time was a puff at the shoulder and a closing-fitting, long extension of the sleeve to the wrist. This French style began being worn by menin other countries as well, such as Great Britain. ([|source]) Elizabethan men were also influenced by Queen Elizabeth as well [|(source)]. Moreover, the development of the England culture had an effect on their clothing. From other European's fashion, men in Elizabethan time also wore similar clothes with them. They wore shirts, corset, and things that make their shoulders looking squared. Also, they made their waist to look smaller because when they tie their waist, they might seem like they are having a wider shoulder. While they were wearing stockings or jerket, some might think they are strange, however, it was their distinctive fashion, and they considered it as fashionable. However, they had a limitation on their clothing, if they are not in the high status, they must not wear clothes in color of gold or silver, also, they should have a squared- shoulders. Men's fashion were different from women's fashion at that time.([|source])
 * Underclothing:** Chemise, stockings or hose, a corset or a bodice, a farthingale, a roll, stomacher, petticoat, kirtle, forepart, and a partlet.
 * Overclothing:** Gown,seperate sleeves, a ruff, a cloak, shoes, and a hat. ([|source]).
 * Underclothing**: shirt, stocking, codpiece, corset, doublet
 * Overclothing:** separate sleeves, breeches, belt, ruff, cloak, shoes, and hat.[|(source)]