pink hatThe Tudor dynasty reigned in England from 1485 to 1603.  Famous Tudors that you may recall included Henry VIII, who had six wives (of which he divorced two and killed two), and his daughters Mary (aka Bloody Mary) and Elizabeth (who hasn’t heard of Queen Elizabeth?).  This was a time when kings and queens and their hangers-on did their best to show everyone how important they were by dressing the part.  Their clothing was rich and opulent, and involved large quantities of expensive fabrics and trimming.  Big ruffs around the neck, huge skirts, lots of brocade and velvet – and lots of perfume to hide the stench from all the sweat that they rarely washed off.

In terms of accessories, it was trendy to wear or carry the pelt of small weasel-ish animals with eyes and paws made of gold.  Embroidered leather gloves and fans were also fashion musts – ostrich feather fans were big towards the beginning of this era, and were later replaced by ones that folded up.  Jewelry involved chokers and pendants and brooches heavy with gold and dangling gems and pearls.

Earlier on, hairstyles of the rich and famous involved a center part, with the hair fluffed out at the sides.  Later, it was brushed straight back and puffed up over the forehead.  Wigs and hairpieces were used as well.

Married women covered their hair with a close fitting hat called a coif or biggin; nice ones had embroidery or lace.  Snoods (known as cauls, remember?) were also popular hair coverings.  Over a snood or a coif, women could wear several styles of hoods, hats, and veils – gable, Flemish, and French are some well known hood styles.  Remember Anne Boleyn and her French hoods?

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