Tudor Kings Henry VIII and Queens Clothing: King Henry VIII is shown in his portraits wearing incredibly sumptuous, rich clothing. The clothing that was made for the king was made from only the finest materials that were available at the time. The materials used in his clothing included silk, taffeta, and velvet as well as calico, brocade and the finest linen.
Aside from the richness of his clothing, he was also bedecked in jewels, with rings on almost every finger. Gold and pearls, as well as diamonds, were regularly on display about the person of the king.
The King’s Attire during the Tudor Period had a Style
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A new style and elegance had been introduced into Tudor fashion by the influences of the continent, including major influences from the court of Italy and Spain. Typically the clothing of a Tudor Kings Henry VIII and Queens Clothing would include a number of layers, each designed to make the final appearance more impressive.
He would wear a tight-fitting waistcoat that would be fastened with a number of tags, along with close-fitting breeches; both of which were designed to emphasize the king’s figure.
His doublet would be tailored to emphasize the broadness of his shoulders and hips. His codpiece would be oversized and bedecked with jewels. His sleeves would be puffed and slashed and styled in such a way as to make him look broader at the shoulder. His mantle, trimmed with the finest fur available would remain open.
The hat worn by the king would be rich with feathers and decoration. His chain of office would be displayed proudly on his chest. The shoes worn by King Henry VIII were made of black leather and were slightly padded. Jewelled buckles and other ornamentation would be attached to his clothing and person, as well as a ring for every finger.
Colours Worn by the Tudor Kings Henry VIII were the Richest for Showing off
What colours did the Tudors wear?
The king would wear the richest of colours, the majority of which were denied to all but a few of the nobles of the court. The colours that he wore such as gold, crimson, silver, and purple were all denied to the lower classes.
His colours indicated that he held the greatest power, the greatest wealth and the greatest control of all. While gold was a significant colour, the use of purple was extremely limited.
The use of purple fabric was off-limits for all but the King, his Dukes, Marquis and Earls and the Knights of the Garter. The colours worn by the nobles of the country indicated where they came in the social ranking of the time.
What did Tudor queens wear?
Tudor women, regardless of their status, wore a linen shift. The royal women would wear a sparkling silhouette and headdresses.
Catherine of Aragon was the first to wear a Spanish-farthingale in the court, which was a triangular-shaped undergarment that gave bulged look to the skirt. The bodice and the skirt worn by the royal women were also rich in colour and adorned with beautiful and intricate embroidery of gold and silver threads.
Once again, Catherine of Aragon introduced the blackwork embroidery which then became a trend. Hoods were also very fashionable among the queens. While Catherine of Aragon wore the English hood, also called a gable, which had a triangular shape, Ane Boleyn preferred the French hood which had a flatter shape. Jane Seymour came back to the traditional English hood as an act of moving away from Anne Boleyn.
Surviving Tudor Clothing
It would be easy for a noble to walk into the court and recognize his peers as their clothing would be of a similar style and colour as his own. This is all because of the sumptuary laws which were passed.
Not only did they direct what could be worn by whom as befits their social status, but it also ensures that the cost of each level of clothing was limited, reducing the opportunity for ostentation on the part of the lords.
Do any Tudor clothes survive?
The Bacton Altar Cloth at the Hampton Court Palace is said to be only surviving cloth from the Tudor era which belonged t Queen Elizabeth I. Historians think that the rich embroidered silk with gold and silver threads are signs that they were a part of the most wealthy court dress.
Recent researches also support the idea that it once formed a part of Elizabeth I’s dress.
What Shoes did the Tudors wear?
Boots and leather shoes were the most common shoes worn in the Tudor court. The king wore the strap and buckle shoes which were also what the women wore.
The women in the court wore the strap shoes but usually preferred silk or cloth slippers.
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