RENAISSANCE ITALIAN

CLOTHING AND FASHION

Alvin Aneke

Jason Carrasco

THE RISE OF FASHION During The Renaissance, fashion from both

Italian and Germanic designers had their influence over European clothing. Each brought something new and exciting to the world of renaissance fashion.

It was during these times that the beret was invented. They were highly decorated during the renaissance by either jewels or embroidery (not as plain as they are today).

Fashion for the wealthy often meant spending a majority of their money on clothing and it was not uncommon for them to literally be “wearing their wealth’.

THE FACE OF FASHION In the Renaissance popular fashion styles

ranged from wide, to barrel-shapped and square fashions.

Clothing then, as now was a “status” symbol. However it was an even bigger status symbol during the renaissance.

Darker colors of fabrics became popular to show off the embroidery or jewels that were sewn into the clothing. The more elaborate the tailoring and craftsmanship, the more expensive the clothing was and helped establish a reputation of wealth for the owner.

FASHION CLASSICS FROM CARLYLE TO BARTHES Renaissance wedding dresses were made of rich

brocades and rich jewel-toned velvets. Just like now, people wore their finest clothing to a wedding. The bride usually wore her hair down and sometimes added a circlet of flowers. White was not a wedding dress color until much later.

There was a law decreeing that commoners could only wear one color of clothing. This was very unpopular.

Initially hosiery was either a sock-like affair made from flax or wool (tweed) or it was knitted. Then came the woven hosiery and “clocks” or patterns were introduced to smarten them up. These all gave way to the more familiar silk stockings.

EARLY SIXTEENTH CENTURY FASHION FOR WOMEN Women’s fashions were similar to that of medieval

dress. Renaissance women consisted of a kirtle and

gown with a cone shaped skirt and long train. Bodices had square necklines, decorated with edgings of fine laces and jewels. Sleeves were very wide, often edged in fur waistlines dipped slightly, and overskirts were split to show the decorative kirtle underneath.

Beneath her gown, along with a kirtle, a renaissance women would wear a linen chemise. This may seem like many layers of clothing, but remember, central heating is several centuries away, and even the finest castles and manor houses were drafty.

EARLY SIXTEENTH CENTURY FASHION FOR MEN The men’s renaissance clothing focused on rich

heavy material, large sleeves, close body garments, large hip garments, heelless shoes and heads covered with hats. Older men wore corsets to control their bulging stomachs.

Me’s renaissance clothing took a turn in European countries and the renaissance clothing patterns became more ‘square’ and then later turned more like a ‘barrel’.

The vest or coat was widened at the shoulders and padded to give the square look. The renaissance clothing for men included pants that were padded breeches and hosiery with wide brimmed hats.

EARLY SIXTEENTH CENTURY FASHION FOR CHILDREN Children’s clothing did look similar to the adult

clothing, although, much like the children’s clothing of today the clothes were much simpler and made of stronger material.

If a child was dressed well, the child’s family was considered dignified and was well-respected among other. However, if a child dressed inappropriately, the child and the family was thought to be poverty-stricken and poor.

An average outfit of a girl from lower-class consisted of a long-sleeved kirtle worn with ample skirts and a rectangular apron and a headdress. The headdress varied from linen coifs and veils to flatcaps. An upper-class girl might wear a gown with a deep “V” that extends down to the base of her abdomen.

HEADWEAR Headwear was a necessity during the

renaissance. There were laws in place that actually fined persons appearing in public without their heads covered.

Hoods were the most common headwear for women in the early sixteenth century.

A biggin was a tight fitting cap worn by infants and younger children.

HAIRSTYLES Hairstyles did not become visible until

the very last part of the Renaissance. Up until that point, most Renaissance women wore their hair covered by hoods.

Some women puffed the sides of their hair out, to peek out from their hoods.

Like everything else in Sixteenth Century Renaissance fashion, hairstyles were dressed in ornate styles, dripping with jewels, pins, wires and ribbons.

WORKS CITEDLeohard, Daniel. The Rise of Fashion.

2004Craik, Jennifer. The Face of Fashion. 1994Carter, Michael. Fashion Classics from

Carlyle to Barthes. 2003http://

weuropeanhistory.suite101.com/article.cfm/renaissance_fashion

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/renaissance-clothing-for-men.html

http://www.angelfire.com/amiga2/fashion1/childrens.html