- Evolution: Ruffs began as simple shirt collars but grew into elaborate, starched, and heavily wired constructions by the late Tudor period.
- Social Significance: The size and complexity of a ruff indicated wealth and social standing. The larger and more ornate the ruff, the higher the wearer’s status.
- Maintenance: Maintaining ruffs was labor-intensive. They required starching, ironing, and the use of wire frames called "supportasses" to keep their shape.
- Fashion Statements: Queen Elizabeth I famously wore massive ruffs, emphasizing her regal status and commanding presence.
Ruffs became a visual symbol of Elizabethan elegance and courtly sophistication.
Men’s Fashion: Far from Simple
Contrary to the misconception that men’s fashion was plain in the Tudor era, it was elaborate and carefully constructed.
- Doublets and Hose: Men wore fitted doublets (a padded jacket) and hose (tight-fitting trousers or stockings). These were often decorated with embroidery and slashing — cuts in the fabric revealing contrasting colors underneath.
- Codpieces: One striking feature was the codpiece, a padded covering for the groin area that exaggerated masculinity and virility. Codpieces could be highly ornamental and were sometimes stuffed or decorated with jewels.
- Capes and Cloaks: Men often wore capes and cloaks, lined with fur or velvet, to display wealth and provide warmth.
- Hats: A variety of hats were fashionable, including flat caps and feathered bonnets.
Men’s fashion was about projecting strength, status, and virility, often in very flamboyant ways. shutdown123