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Clothing In The Elizabethan Era

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Queen Elizabeth I supposedly owned a wardrobe that was home to more than 2000 gowns! She also had a soft spot for rich fabrics and jewelry (CEE 1). The Elizabethan Age brought a big development of culture in sixteenth century England. The most memorable parts of the Elizabethan Era were makeup, fashion laws, and the advantages of being wealthy.
There are many steps to the full makeup of the Elizabethan period. Firstly, woman greatly worried about their skincare. All the makeup women regularly used was to get a pale complexion, they would often develop all types of blemishes. To be-rid of their imperfections, Elizabethan woman used several methods. One of these methods was a mixture containing rosewater, lemon juice, alum, mercury, and honey. …show more content…
The first set of laws restricting clothing being was the Sumptuary Laws. Elizabethan Sumptuary Laws determined what pigments and type of clothing individuals were allowed to own and wear. This way, officials could immediately identify an individual’s rank and privilege. Therefore, the materials of clothing were very important. These laws were also used to control behavior and to make sure that a specific class structure was maintained (Eli 4). English Sumptuary Laws deciding the clothing that Elizabethans wore were well known by all people. The penalties for violating a Sumptuary Law were harsh. Punishments included high fees, loss of property, loss of title, and even …show more content…
It was a hooped skirt made of whalebone or wood, depending on the shape you desired. The farthingale was worn under the gown. A ruff was also worn by people who belonged in the upper class. With the upper class, an individual has more options when picking out fabrics for clothing. The upper class of Elizabethan England wore elegant and luxurious clothing that were made of expensive velvet, exotic satin and silk. Only members of the Royal Family were allowed to wear robes trimmed with ermine. Methods such as padding and quilting were often used to stiffen the fabric, emphasizing the shoulders and the waist. Shoes were made with fine leather, or materials such as silk, velvet, brocade, and decorated with embellishments. Because of the elaborate dressing, women typically took hours to complete their

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