Elizabethan Period

Fashion during the Elizabethan Period

Giambattista Valli AW12/13

The Elizabethan era refers to the period of history under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558-1603). During this period of time women were usually impeccably dressed in elaborate costumes consisting of several layers of undergarments, corsets and gowns. Fashion in this period was used to indicate your social standing – for example, aristocrats and high-class citizens would wear clothes trimmed with ermine to demonstrate their authority, as opposed to the lower classes that had to wear clothes trimmed with fur (usually fox or otter). Ruffs were frequently worn around the neck, whilst powdered wigs and crinolines were added to create a look which is often replicated in couture today.

Fashion during the Elizabethan Period