Re: [Richard III Society Forum] Re: Matching gowns

Surely it was custom, if not perhaps law (sorry, am in the middle of moving house so all source books packed) that certain classes could or could not wear certain colours and fabrics. If this wasn't the custom at this stage then certainly clothes were seen as statements of social position, rather like today's designer labels, where the slightest detail made a statement. Therefore, for a lady of lesser rank to wear the same clothes as a lady of higher rank, a very definite political statement was being made.

I can't actually remember when the custom (laws?) about wearing eg purple came into being, I have a feeling it was early middle ages but I hope someone more knowledgeable can pin this down. Clothes, particularly at court, were "costume" reflecting status, though, rather than just being nice things to wear.

Shelagh

--- In , "Shelagh"
<leapint@b...> wrote:
> Surely it was custom, if not perhaps law (sorry, am in the middle
of moving house so all source books packed) that certain classes
could or could not wear certain colours and fabrics. If this wasn't
the custom at this stage then certainly clothes were seen as
statements of social position, rather like today's designer labels,
where the slightest detail made a statement. Therefore, for a lady
of lesser rank to wear the same clothes as a lady of higher rank, a
very definite political statement was being made.
>
> I can't actually remember when the custom (laws?) about wearing eg
purple came into being, I have a feeling it was early middle ages
but I hope someone more knowledgeable can pin this down. Clothes,
particularly at court, were "costume" reflecting status, though,
rather than just being nice things to wear.
>
> Shelagh

I think you mean the Sumptuary laws. These people were of
sufficiently similar status, all being of royal blood to some degree
that I doubt even the finer points would make much difference to
their appearance, perhaps a fur trimming or so.
B
>
>
>

I think you mean the Sumptuary laws.

Of course! Thank you.

Shelagh