Tudor Clothes for the PoorTudor Clothes for the Poor Tudor clothes and fashion varied according to whether the person was a member of Royalty, the Nobility, Upper Class or one of the poor, working class. But whether a man was wealthy or poor he was not allowed to wear whatever he liked due to the Tudor Sumptuary or Statutes of Apparel. Colors, styles and materials were dictated by class and rank. The higher the rank the more choice of materials, styles and colors that could be worn. The rank and position of Tudor men and women would be immediately recognised by the color, style and material of their clothes. Tudor Clothes for Poor Men The Sumptuary Laws were designed to limit the expenditure of Tudor people on clothes and to maintain the social structure of the Tudor Class system! Wool, linen and sheepskin were the most inexpensive materials and fabrics to produce and therefore limited to low status clothing of Poor Tudor men. In 1571 a law was passed which decreed that everyone over the age of 6 years old had to wear a woollen cap on Sundays and on holidays in order to help England's wool trade, of course, royalty and the nobility were excused from obeying this law. Another interesting fact is the taller the hat the more important the man - poor men wore woollen flat caps. The following table lists the Tudor clothes for Poor men as dictated by the Sumptuary Laws or Statutes of Apparel. Sumptuary Laws - Tudor Clothes allowed for Poor Men | Status or Position | Material of Clothing allowed | Color of Clothing allowed | Item of Clothing allowed | Lower Class Men | Wool, linen and sheepskin | Brown, beige, yellow, orange, russet, green, grey and blue (not the deep Poor indigo but dyed with woad) | | Lower Class Men | Silk, taffeta and velvet trimmings allowed | | Buttons and the facing of coats, cloaks, hats and caps | Status or Position | Material of Clothing allowed | Color of Clothing allowed | Item of Clothing allowed | Sumptuary Laws - Tudor Clothes allowed for Poor Men |
Tudor Clothes for Poor Women The Sumptuary Laws were designed to limit the expenditure of Tudor people on clothes and to maintain the social structure of the Tudor Class system! Wool, linen and sheepskin were the most inexpensive materials and fabrics to produce and therefore limited to low status clothing of Poor Tudor women. The following table lists the Tudor clothes for poor women as dictated by the Sumptuary Laws or Statutes of Apparel. Sumptuary Laws - Tudor Clothes allowed for Poor Women | Status or Position | Material of Clothing allowed | Color of Clothing allowed | Item of Clothing allowed | Lower Class Women | Wool, linen and sheepskin | Brown, beige, yellow, orange, russet, green, grey and blue (not the deep blue indigo but dyed with woad) | | Lower Classes Women | Silk, taffeta and velvet trimmings allowed | | Buttons and the facing of coats, cloaks, hats and caps | Status or Position | Material of Clothing allowed | Color of Clothing allowed | Item of Clothing allowed | Sumptuary Laws - Tudor Clothes allowed for Poor Women |
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