During the Renaissance, the wealthiest and most prosperous members of a city, town, or region often wore elaborate and highly decorated Renaissance clothing that was handmade from a variety of rich and expensive fabrics and finishes. In fact, the richer a family was, the more expensive and ornate their Renaissance clothing was, as this was one of the main ways of indicating stature and wealth during the Renaissance period (from the 14th century to the mid-17th century). ).
Interestingly, as there were few opportunities for financial investment, the Renaissance dress of the ruling classes was not only considered an indicator of wealth, but a form of investment. If a family needed money in the future, the clothes could be resold. This included cotton, velvet, silk, and brocade. At the time, each of these was labor-intensive and/or produced a long distance from Western Europe, such as in Egypt for cotton. Rich finishes, such as ribbons, seed beads, and gold/silver threads, were also lavishly embroidered on Renaissance clothing of the time.
During the Renaissance period, women’s clothing ebb and flow from simpler pieces such as petticoats, bodices, and tunics, to more complex garments that included skirts, petticoats, bodices, bodices, hoops, and collars. Men’s Renaissance clothing, on the other hand, was often designed to accentuate the shape of the body, giving them a more rounded appearance (along the lines of a barrel). Made from the same rich colors and fabrics, their Renaissance clothing often included padded shoulder pads and breeches, as well as hats, embellished with the same elegant embroidery and finishing that completed Renaissance women’s clothing.