Elizabethan Fashion


What can be more fun and frolicky than looking at the silly things people used to wear. I mean, some of us have had to own up to wearing polyester leisure suits or lacy white ankle socks with high-heels.. hmm. So who are we to wrinkle our noses up at the ruffs and layers upon layers of material you are about to see. Any which way, this is about fun, and I have searched through MANY sites to find those that are unusual and interesting. Have fun!

Overview of an Elizabethan Outfit Or, she must be stiffling in that thing! LOL!
Men's and Women's Fashions Ok! So basically here are some more basics. It has some interesting info on materials, shoes and all put together by a group of 12th graders. I think they did a good job.
And lastly a wonderful timeline of how fashion changed through the century and why! This is a GREAT overview.. !!!

Now that we are done with the generics..lets look into some specifics..like

Colors worn by the lower-class I don't know about you, but these are what I would have been wearing.. and I'm surprised they weren't drab!

Make-up 101 EEK! Um, I think I might be more for the natural look.... take a look at why pasty was considered beautiful.

The Effigy Corset They did a study on the queen's corset...the one she was buried in!

Fans Who would have guessed that such a simple thing would become a huge status symbol!?
And if you owned a fan you must learn the Language of Fans. After all how could you know how to flirt with one?! LOL!

Hairstyles Gee! Next time you go to the salon, remember that need for the perfect *do* is not new!
Coifs Did you think I meant more hairstyles? Well guess again. Actually Coifs are the headgear that women wore.. and some were amazingly embroidered. Come take a look.

How to tie an Elizabethan Bow Would you like to fancy to brighten your outfit with a new knot? One from the Elizabethan age?... come and learn how.

Jewelry How they adorned themselves.
Which includes the lace they wore.

Vocabulary of Fashion Maybe a glossary would help?
 

And then, there are ALWAYS the critics. Joan Rivers move over. Apparently Stubbes was the critic of all fashion critics. He could find something wrong with everything, and usually did.. often..

Fashion Plates - Some gimpses into the past.
Mid-16th Century 1535 - 1570
Late 16th Century 1570 - 1600