Overview of an Elizabethan Outfit

Executive summary about Renaissance Gown by Drea Leed

What a woman wore depended on her age, background, body type and individual taste. In 1580, a woman could choose to wear a French gown, round gown, loose gown, night gown, doublet, Italian gown, and Flemish and Polish gown, just for starters.

Meet Cecily Hawkins, a minor noblewoman living in London in 1575. Cecily has a number of servants to do her hair and put on her shoes after she dresses. Although the Elizabethan noblewomen didn't wear underwear per se, several modern re-enactors do; when wearing elizabethan dress in hot weather, shorts can prevent chafing.

After stretching and washing her face and hands, Cecily is ready to dress. A petticoat's not really suited to the French Gown she plans to wear, Cecily decides. Cecily decides to wear a kirtle instead.

Joan places a linen cape over her gown, to keep hair and hair oils away from the delicate silks. The front hair is rolled into two poufs, using some false hair to add body, and the rest is braided into a thick brown braid.

Meanwhile, Maud has been preparing Cecily's makeup, applies the white foundation to Cecily face and bosom, and then applies red "ceruse" to cecily's lips.

Cecily orders her fancy white linen ruff-band with the gold lace edging and spangles to be brought from its band-box. Joan and maud hook them onto Cecily's neck and wrists.

Cecily chooses a rich carcanet of garnets and pearls to wear around her neck. Joan keeps nagging Cecily to wear some protective clothing, so Cecily has Maud put a "safeguard" over her gown to keep any unfortunate mud from it during her horse ride across town. Cecily is finally ready to go to court!

A typical man's outfit would include boots, breeches, a shirt, a jerkin, and a hat.