Fashion In The Elizabethan Era
“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” - Coco Chanel. All throughout history, fashion has always been important. During the mid-1500s, Queen Elizabeth I came into power and drastically changed the fashion of England. The fashion of the Elizabethan Era shaped the culture and made an impact on the era and its people. Elizabethan upper class’s clothing was elaborate and very layered. When Queen Elizabethan rose to power, she had a major impact on the clothing of upper class. Both men and women aspired to look like the Queen but their outfits could never outshine her because she always had to be the best dressed. During that
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Women of the Elizabethan Era liked to make their faces very pale. They would mix white lead and vinegar and apply it generously on their faces to appear smooth and young. Little did they know, the lead in their makeup would slowly kill them due to lead poisoning. Women would even be bled to achieve a sickly, pale complexion. Women would also use Cochineal to redden their cheeks and lips and Kohl to darken their eyelashes (Alchin). Men didn’t wear makeup but both men and women cared about their hair. Women wore their hair frizzy and swept up, sometimes dyed blonde or red. During that time, women would even pluck their hairlines to achieve a large forehead. Men usually had short hair and some had facial hair. People, upper class especially, kept their hair groomed and presentable at all times. When their hair began to bald or gray, both men and women wore wigs. Makeup and hair was just as important as the clothing of the Elizabethan Era and changed the face of English makeup (Mortimer). In the Elizabethan Era, fashion was very important and made a major impact on the culture and the people. Fashion will always be important and show unique changes in people during history. Whether it be in the 1500s or the 2000s, fashion is an important part of culture and reflects the attitude and feeling of that time in
Women of the Elizabethan Era liked to make their faces very pale. They would mix white lead and vinegar and apply it generously on their faces to appear smooth and young. Little did they know, the lead in their makeup would slowly kill them due to lead poisoning. Women would even be bled to achieve a sickly, pale complexion. Women would also use Cochineal to redden their cheeks and lips and Kohl to darken their eyelashes (Alchin). Men didn’t wear makeup but both men and women cared about their hair. Women wore their hair frizzy and swept up, sometimes dyed blonde or red. During that time, women would even pluck their hairlines to achieve a large forehead. Men usually had short hair and some had facial hair. People, upper class especially, kept their hair groomed and presentable at all times. When their hair began to bald or gray, both men and women wore wigs. Makeup and hair was just as important as the clothing of the Elizabethan Era and changed the face of English makeup (Mortimer). In the Elizabethan Era, fashion was very important and made a major impact on the culture and the people. Fashion will always be important and show unique changes in people during history. Whether it be in the 1500s or the 2000s, fashion is an important part of culture and reflects the attitude and feeling of that time in