Clothing During The Elizabethan Era

The Elizabethan Era, also referred to as the Golden Age, lasted from 1558 to 1603. This era was characterized by the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Many factors contributed to this era, such as entertainment and education. Clothing was also one of the main aspects of this time period. It played a significant role in the daily lives of people as, in many ways, it distinguished the royals from the working classes. Clothing was an important part of the Elizabethan society.
Working women’s clothing adhered to their status in society. Working class women were not valued within the society. “...pictures and paintings showing the dress of poorer folks are relatively rare in comparison to the [many] upper-class paintings…” (Leed). The tightness or looseness of the clothing worn reflected a woman’s lifestyle. If a woman wore tight clothing, it meant that she was up-kept and proper. Women who wore loose clothing were said to be loose in morals. Despite this, all lower-class women wore similar clothing such as gowns, kirtles, which were full-length petticoats worn under gowns, and a skirt.

Similar to lower class women, they wore kirtles, gowns, and skirts. The garments worn by women of the higher classes were laced with intricate, floral embroideries made of gold. These costumes also came in a variety of colors. In order to differentiate between the different classes, there were specific laws permitting only upper class women to wear colors such as orange, red, and purple, also known as the royal color. As it was the style of this time period, rich women wanted to accentuate their hourglass figure by wearing expensive gowns that were wide at the shoulders and tighter around the