The Elizabethan era

After the Italian/Spanish Renaissance and The Tudors, we arrived in the Elizabethan Era - which marked the Late Renaissance. This period is named after the greatest Queen of England - Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603) and is also known as the Golden Age in English history.

During this era England experienced peace and prosperity while the arts flourished (like William Shakespeare).

Fashion became very wide and decadent. The more stuff you have on you, the richer you were. The silhouette was totally influenced by Queen Elizabeth I. Everybody wanted to look or dress like her. She was the dominant force. Even men were also feminized like the Queen (accentuating a small waist, earrings, curls, ruffs,..).

WOMAN

- corset

- bum-roll (like a massive donut around your hips)

- farthingale, now without a front

- stomacher: separate triangular front

- standing collar, ruff (around the neck))

The Queen's big influence was also applied to hair and make-up, like the lead-based 'Venetian Ceruse' to whiten your skin. Read more about their hair and make-up on Margo's website and check out her beautiful illustrations!