Location: Chart of Tudor Sumptuary Laws

Discussion: Sumptury LawsReported This is a featured thread

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jmccoy2272
jmccoy2272
Sumptury Laws
Jan 30 2009, 1:37 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 30 2009, 1:37 PM EST
Okay, so Im not a complete shallow clothes horse but seriously. Jail if I wear silk in Tudor times? Knowing me I would see a design I like and wear it only to get arrested for the bit of embroidery on the sleeve. Anyone else think these laws are completely insane? Do you find this valuable?    
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Bluevanillalady
Bluevanillalady
1. RE: Sumptury Laws
Jan 30 2009, 2:47 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 30 2009, 2:47 PM EST
"Okay, so Im not a complete shallow clothes horse but seriously. Jail if I wear silk in Tudor times? Knowing me I would see a design I like and wear it only to get arrested for the bit of embroidery on the sleeve. Anyone else think these laws are completely insane?"
I thought it was too...not that most of the people could afford any of the cloth the court had banned. It was their god given right to wear silk and gold though....LOL. Do you find this valuable?    
karenofbethany
karenofbethany
2. RE: Sumptury Laws
Jan 30 2009, 5:52 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 30 2009, 5:52 PM EST
"Okay, so Im not a complete shallow clothes horse but seriously. Jail if I wear silk in Tudor times? Knowing me I would see a design I like and wear it only to get arrested for the bit of embroidery on the sleeve. Anyone else think these laws are completely insane?"
Insane, I agree...maybe one reason for the laws is they were afraid a person from lower class would try to "pass themselves off" as a noble and possibly gain access into the inner sanctum. But I can't imagine people actually telling you what fabric or color you could or could not wear. That would kill me as much as prison, just the idea of having my intimate life that legislated. What if you wanted to dress up for a special dinner with the one you loved? You weren't allowed to be attractive? It's stranger than strange. Do you find this valuable?    
darrrrksunshine
darrrrksunshine
3. RE: Sumptury Laws
Jan 30 2009, 7:56 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 30 2009, 7:56 PM EST
So funny, to think about dress restrictions. I don't think I would care too much. I work in a school that has a dress code, so the kids can only wear white, gray and black. I tend to wear the same colors so they don't feel I am getting special treatment. Do you find this valuable?    
karenofbethany
karenofbethany
4. RE: Sumptury Laws
Jan 30 2009, 8:01 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 30 2009, 8:01 PM EST
"So funny, to think about dress restrictions. I don't think I would care too much. I work in a school that has a dress code, so the kids can only wear white, gray and black. I tend to wear the same colors so they don't feel I am getting special treatment. "
Thing is the kids won't be sentenced to that for life. Idea of dress code for school is uniformity and purpose is to take focus off of cliques, etc., and on to studying. Whereas, IMO, sumptuary laws were a form of social prejudice, and it didn't matter your age or your worth as a human being, you just could not wear what you wanted if you were not 'high born". Do you find this valuable?    
Bluevanillalady
Bluevanillalady
5. RE: Sumptury Laws
Jan 30 2009, 9:36 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 30 2009, 9:36 PM EST
"Insane, I agree...maybe one reason for the laws is they were afraid a person from lower class would try to "pass themselves off" as a noble and possibly gain access into the inner sanctum. But I can't imagine people actually telling you what fabric or color you could or could not wear. That would kill me as much as prison, just the idea of having my intimate life that legislated. What if you wanted to dress up for a special dinner with the one you loved? You weren't allowed to be attractive? It's stranger than strange."
I think that is exactly why they did it. I was looking at something on line that showed what cloths could be worn by who and it also allowed them to distinguish rank in society. Although a peasant couldn't just come out of the fields and put on some fancy clothes and pass themselves off as a higher class either though. It would have taken training time and some sorted people of court to do so. As was the case with "The Imposter King". Their were things that were ingraned in royalty and anyone of any substantial station. It would have been next to impossible to teach someone without rigerous training I would think. It was kind of a mute law though. Anyone that wasn't of a certain class wouldn't have been in a position to purchase anything cloth like that. And I am sure if they came into any small amount of money they wouldn't have wasted it on something so frivolous as fabric for an outfit they would never have any place to where. If they did come into money that could have been enough to elevate them to a point of being able to wear said items. Do you find this valuable?    
Bluevanillalady
Bluevanillalady
6. RE: Sumptury Laws
Jan 30 2009, 9:38 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 30 2009, 9:38 PM EST
"So funny, to think about dress restrictions. I don't think I would care too much. I work in a school that has a dress code, so the kids can only wear white, gray and black. I tend to wear the same colors so they don't feel I am getting special treatment. "
As well it's not like your options were comfortable or sanitary. They probably didn't have more than a couple items of clothing and the fabrics would have been harsh and itchy and thick. They wouldn't have breathed well and chances are you worked all day in it. It probably caused rashes and didn't breath more often than not. Do you find this valuable?