Costumes and Customs from the Sixteenth Century

In the medieval days, expression of one’s loyalties to a ruler or lord and of one’s social prestige, as well as of one’s wealth, became an object of dress. There were two main classes of people: the few who had every advantage, and the many who had none. Class distinctions were stressed, and personal discomfort and restrictions in movement were willingly endured by those of the upper class, since the dress gave evidence of the fact that the wearer did not need to engage in any useful work. Some influence from this period may be noted from time to time today. It may be seen in the pomp and ceremony of elaborate church weddings with veiled brides in trailing wedding dresses, sometimes making it necessary to have train bearers and maids of honour. All this duplicates—in some respects, at least—some of the pageantry of the life of the lady of the castle long ago.
— Laura Baxter, Today's Clothing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amazon Ads

Clothing