Renaissance Dresses - A Historical Account
During the Renaissance, the wealthier and more affluent members of a urban center, township or area often wore elaborate and highly decorated renaissance clothing that was hand crafted from a variety of rich and expensive materials and finishes. In fact, the wealthier a family was the more expensive and ornate their Renaissance clothing was, as this was one of the distinguished ways of showing stature and riches during the Renaissance period.
Interestingly enough, as there was little opportunity for financial investment, the Renaissance clothing of the ruling families was not only seen as indication of wealth, but a form of investment. If a family were to require money in the future, the clothing could be resold.The materials that the prosperous and their designers favored during the Renaissance were materials that were the hardest to make and therefore the most expensive and exclusive. This included cotton, velvet, silk and brocade. At the time, each of these was labor intensive and/or made a great distance away from Western Europe, such as in Egypt for cotton. Rich finishes such as ribbons, seed pearls and golden/silver thread were also generously embroidered on the Renaissance clothing of the day.
During the period, Medieval clothing for women ebbed and flowed from plainer pieces, such as petticoats, bodices and robes, to more complicated dressing that included skirts, petticoats, bodices, over bodices, hoops and collars. Men’s Renaissance clothing on the other hand, was often designed to accentuate the body shape, allowing them with a more rounded look. Made out of the same rich colors and fabrics, their renaissance clothing often included padded shoulders and breeches, as well as hats, decorated with the same embellishment and fancy finishes that completed the Renaissance dresses for women.