Post by Nikki on May 31, 2015 21:53:18 GMT
The middle class in Elizabethan times were mainly composed of rich people. (source) Almost every person in middle class wore hats in public, and both men and women enjoyed jewelry accessories. (source) Also, people always had at least one accessory such as keys, pouch, jewel, handkerchief (pict). All men and women wore gloves whenever they went out, and they were one of the most important accessories since glove was beautiful and it protected hands.
Many women sprayed perfumes before going out, since the streets were filthy. Elizbethan middle class women could wear clothing made out of broadcloth, linen, and cotton as well as wearing a chemise to protect their clothing from sweat and other bodily oils. Chemises could be of three different lengths, and then a bodice is worn over the chemise, like a vest, but it laces up, moreover, caps or shoulder puffs can be worn on their body. Cloaks were optional (pict). Poor middle class people like less wealthy middle class people wore jerkins, and most wore doublets. Doublets are worn over a shirt, and sometimes over a waistcoat. The sleeves were seperate from doublet.(source) Men wore a padding inside the shirt called codpiece, which plumped their belly, so the wearer would look rich. The codpiece, a fashion item for men at the time, originated from platings that some high class people worn to protect their belly. At first, a codpiece was for protection, it eventually became a symbol of wealth. Underwear was optional for men at that time, and some men slept without their underwear.
Many women sprayed perfumes before going out, since the streets were filthy. Elizbethan middle class women could wear clothing made out of broadcloth, linen, and cotton as well as wearing a chemise to protect their clothing from sweat and other bodily oils. Chemises could be of three different lengths, and then a bodice is worn over the chemise, like a vest, but it laces up, moreover, caps or shoulder puffs can be worn on their body. Cloaks were optional (pict). Poor middle class people like less wealthy middle class people wore jerkins, and most wore doublets. Doublets are worn over a shirt, and sometimes over a waistcoat. The sleeves were seperate from doublet.(source) Men wore a padding inside the shirt called codpiece, which plumped their belly, so the wearer would look rich. The codpiece, a fashion item for men at the time, originated from platings that some high class people worn to protect their belly. At first, a codpiece was for protection, it eventually became a symbol of wealth. Underwear was optional for men at that time, and some men slept without their underwear.