The Elizabethan Era placed high importance on fashion and status was reflected by clothing. Sumptuary Laws dictated what could be worn based on social class, regulating fabrics, colors, and items. The wealthy wore elaborate outfits of velvet and silk while the poor were limited to wool and linen. Personal appearance signaled rank in Elizabethan society.

2. •The Elizabethan Era was a highly fashion-conscious
age, and prized a look that was
elaborate, artificial, stylized, and striking. Men
and women alike were concerned to be wearing
the latest and most fashionable outfits.
• Elizabethan era was a period when a person’s
status was recognized by the kind of clothing
they wore.

5. Partlet Separate sleeves stomacher

6. Cloak Kirtle Petticoat

7. 1 2 3 4
5 6 7

8. Poorest class of women
• The poorest class of women revealed no distinctive
style, but a country maidservant might wear the bodice
of her petticoat "laced before" and a blue or black
kirtle

11. • Ruff
• Doublet
• Belt
• Separate sleeves
• Breaches
• Stockings or hose

12. Status or Position
Material of Clothing
allowed
Color of Clothing allowed Item of Clothing allowed
King, King's mother,
children, brethren, and
uncles
Silk Purple Any Clothing

13. Status or Position Material of Clothing
allowed
Color of Clothing allowed Item of Clothing allowed
Dukes, Marquises, and Earls Silk Purple
Doublets, jerkins, linings of
cloaks, gowns, and hose

14. Status or Position Material of Clothing
allowed
Color of Clothing allowed Item of Clothing allowed
Knights of the Garter Silk Silk Silk

15. Status or Position
Material of Clothing
allowed
Color of Clothing
allowed
Item of Clothing allowed
Peasants Deep Blue Deep Blue
Gowns and cloaks, and in
coats, jackets, jerkins, coifs,
purses

17. • Elizabethans were not allowed to wear whatever they liked! It
did not matter how wealthy they were - the color, fabric and
material of their clothes were dictated by their status or
position and this was enforced by English Law!
• These laws about clothing in the Elizabethan era were called
“Sumptuary Laws”. They were designed to limit the
expenditure of people on clothes - and to maintain the social
structure of the Elizabethan Class system!

18. Expensive Material & Fabrics
• Elizabethan Nobles and Upper classes wore clothing made of
velvets, furs, silks, lace, cottons and taffeta. Knights returning
from the Crusades returned
taffeta lace cotton silk

19. Cheap Material & Fabrics
• The Elizabethan Lower Classes had to wear clothing made of
wool, linen and sheepskin however, silk, taffeta and velvet
trimmings were allowed. Not
• only were the fabrics strictly restricted but also the colors

20. Common Elizabethan Material & Fabrics
Brocade, Buckram, Calico, Cambric, Canvas, Corduroy,
Cypress, Damask, Felt, Flannel, Gauze, Grogram, Holland,
Lawn, Linen, Lockram, Plush, Russet, Sarcenet, Satin, Shag,
Silk, Tabbinet, Tabby, and Velvet

22. The ruffs, or collars, framed the face and dictated the
hairstyles of the age.

23. • Women wore their hair long when young and
unmarried; after marriage, women pinned up
and covered their hair.
• Men’s hair started as short closely cropped
hairstyles and increased in length during the
period.

25. • The Elizabethan
view of pure
beauty was a
woman with light
hair and a snow
white complexion
complimented
with red cheeks
and red lips.

27. • Elizabethan jewelry only
available to the Nobility
or Upper Class.
• Gold, silver, copper and
ivory with precious and
semi-precious stones were
used.
• Cheaper alternatives made
of glass, bone, horn and
even wood were also
used.
Pendants

28. Bracelets
Earrings
Collars of Office Girdle
Necklaces and Rings

29. Thank you for your
attention