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 * Social standing and fashion **

Elizabethan class systems were very strict. Not only did they divide society and define the identity of an individual, but they also controlled what fabrics and fashions one could wear. What one wore on his or her body indicated societal standing more so than a personal statement or expression. By law, a person from the lower class was limited to less spending on clothing than the nobility. Interestingly enough, people could not wear certain things reserved for royalty/nobility even if they were wealthy. If the Sumptuary Laws were broken, consequences included fines, confiscation of property, or sometimes execution (Elizabethan Era, 2010).

Much like the Sumptuary Laws separated lower and upper class dress, expenditure restrictions also existed within the upper class itself. For instance, ermine trimmings were reserved for royalty. Gold clothing could only be worn by the Queen and her female relatives (mother, children, sisters, aunts) as well as by duchesses, countesses, and marquises. However, baronesses and others in a similar category were not allowed to use gold fabrics. With a husband of higher social standing came allowances not only for the means to wear luxurious dress but the //right// to do so (Elizabethan Era, 2010).


 * Fashion trends **

With the Elizabethan era also came emerging trends that popularized slashed sleeves. The upper class liked to slash their clothing to reveal the pop of color from fabric underneath. Not only was it a fashion statement (who doesn’t like pops of color?), but it was more importantly an indication of class. Certain fabrics used by the upper class included rich silk, imported from Asia, and velvet, imported from Italy. The dyes used to create bright colors were also expensive imports (Elizabethan Era England Life, 2010).

It was not only the women who were concerned with their attire. In order to gain power and success at court, one’s appearance mattered greatly. In fact, the Elizabethan age was dubbed the “the Peacock age” because men often had more elaborate dress than women. A tight-waisted look was fashionable for both women and men, which they achieved through the use of corsets and girdles respectively (Lad, 2010). The Renaissance saw an increased devotion to mathematics and science, so upper class fashion was modeled on geometrical shapes as opposed to the actual human body. Emphasis of stiffness around the shoulders and hips was achieved by inserting animal bone (Elizabethan Era, 2010).


 * Trendsetter Queen Elizabeth **

The Queen was responsible in large part for the shift in dress during the Elizabethan age. At the start of her reign, women’s dress was very much like that of a man. It covered the body modestly and showed little shape. Later, a more feminine image emerged with open collars exposing neck and bosom. Additionally, frills and ruffles became increasingly more elaborate and large. Elizabeth was often portrayed with a high, frilled collar at the back of her head. Large ruffled collars were popular amongst both genders (Leed, 2010).

Centuries later, Coco Chanel would lead a revolution that did the exact opposite of Queen Elizabeth’s fashion changes. She got rid of the elaborate frills and freed the female body from constricting fabrics and designs, paving the way for modern dress.


 * Standard of beauty **

A standard Elizabethan beauty would have had light hair, extremely white skin, and red-stained lips and cheeks. Queen Elizabeth was also responsible for setting the standard of beauty for the women of the time. She had an image to uphold as a virginal queen, hence the ivory complexion. Natural hair dye and wigs existed for those who wanted blonde hair as well as whitening powders for lighter skin.

**Elizabethan hair**

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 * Works Cited**

"England Fashion during the Elizabethan Age." //Elizabethan Era England Life.// Web. 03 Oct. 2010. [].

"Elizabethan Fashion." //Karen's Whimsy//. Web. 01 Oct. 2010. .

"Elizabethan Upper Class Fashion." Elizabethan Era. Web. 16 Oct. 2010. [].

Lad, Kashmira. "Clothing in Elizabethan Era." //Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web//. Web. 07 Oct. 2010. []

Leed, Drea. "Constructing Elizabethan Ruffs." //Elizabethan Costuming Page//. Web. 03 Oct. 2010. .