Elizabethan Fashion History

The Elizabethan age is the time in history associated with Queen Elizabeth I's reign it went from 1558 to 1603.

The Elizabethan period was from the date of the accession of Elizabeth the 1st of England in 1558 to her death in 1603 when James VI of Scotland became King of England and Scotland. James was the son of Mary Stuart of Scotland who was the first cousin of Elizabeth of England. Elizabeth was never married nor had had any children therefore since she had beheaded her cousin Mary, Mary's son James became her nearest relative.

What was the Elizabethan era?

Elizabethan – Fashion Sumptuous materials, that were plain-colored and brocaded,

continued to be use during this period and jewel use increased. This is the period of the collar and collars were starched very high

with many ruffles. Men and women wore them big or small.

Elizabethan– Fashion Long waists, long legs, small long heads were the ideal for a

beautiful person. The square silhouette was replaced by this long slender look.

Huge hips became the vogue and with that so did the hoop. Men wore their hair short but if the man was a fop he would have

short hair with a single love lock over the shoulder. Beard were commonly worn by men and it was a small beard with

a neatly trimmed point. The hat that was fashionable was a hat that had a stiff brim and

gathered crown that would be worn at a jaunty angle on the head. The “stove pipe” was another hat that was popular.

Women wore their hair drawn away from the ears and fluffed out at the temple.

Hair was brushed straight back off the forehead in the style of “pompadour.” The widow's peak was a fashionable detail to the hairline. Blond and Red hair was popular once again and many women bleached and dyed their hair and even wore wigs in those colors.

Make-up was worn in court often. Female hats were copies of masculine styles in hats. The women even wore the “sugar-loaf” with the widish brim.

Elizabethan – Fashion

Colour scheme of costume at this time were combinations of white and black, black and gold, and black and red. They used Full tones of red, green and blue and bright hues of orange-tawny and flame, will pale tones like yellow-green, saffron and watchet blue. Pearl and Gold were included in any elaborate ensemble.

Fabrics, Luxurious Elizabethan clothing for the nobles and the upper classes were crafted from expensive material and fabric, including velvet, silk, taffeta etc.

Elizabethan – Fabric & Colours

Elizabethan Inspired Fashion

Elizabethan Inspired Drawings