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Location: Chart of Tudor Sumptuary Laws
Discussion: What Not to Wear, Tudor style
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karenofbethany |
What Not to Wear, Tudor style
Jan 18 2009, 2:57 PM EST
The fashion pages are delicious and addictive. Have any of you read the sumptuary laws regarding what various persons of ranks could or could not wear? They are a roar! Somebody tell me what I could be arrested for - dare I, a mere peasant, wear a prinking with gold silver or silk even if I wanted to play dress-up? What were the sentences for breaking these laws? DId the fashion police go into the bedrooms to see if any of the women had a little velvet on their nighties?
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beardedlady |
1. RE: What Not to Wear, Tudor style
Jan 18 2009, 7:47 PM EST
Haha funny. Yes, the fashion pages are great. Sumptuary Laws were generally hard to enforce. Elizabeth I really cracked down with them. But she used Sumptuary laws not only to create class distinction, but also to keep nobles from spending unnecessarily on "vain devices.” You could argue that some forms of sumptuary laws still exist today – kids having to wear school uniforms. 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
