Dressing the Elite: Clothes in Early Modern England

by Susan Vincent

Clothing occupies a complex and important position in relation to human experience. Not just utilitarian, dress gives form to a society's ideas about the sacred and secular, about exclusion and inclusion, about age, beauty, sexuality and status. In Dressing the Elite, the author explores the multiple meanings that garments held in early modern England.Clothing was used to promote health and physical well-being, and to manage and structure, life transitions. It helped individuals create social identities and also to disguise them. Indeed, so culturally powerful was the manipulation of appearances that authorities sought its control. Laws regulated access to the dress styles of the elite, and through less formal strategies, techniques of disguise were kept as the perquisites of the powerful.Focusing on the elite, the author argues that clothing was not just a form of cultural expression but in turn contributed to societal formation. Clothes shaped the configurations of the body, affected spaces and interactions between people and altered the perceptions of the wearers and viewers. People put on and manipulated their garments, but in turn dress also exercised a reverse influence. Clothes made not just the man and the woman, but also the categories of gender itself. Topics covered include cross-dressing, sumptuary laws, mourning apparel and individual styles.

Genres: History, Fashion

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

Reviews

[Allison Thurman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short version: "the what and why of Elizabethan bling". The long: how the 16th century English elite used clothing to communicate status and wealth.

[Rachael Hewison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book I had to read for one of my History degree essays. I re-discovered it when going through some old boxes and thought I'd give it another read. I didn't find it a particularly good book for a leisure read. I found it really hard to concentrate on and some sections just didn't interest me at all. The conclusion was the best part for me; really interesting and insightful. This book was useful for my essay but not one I'd read again for pleasure. A shame as it is an interesting topic to cover.

[Cecilia H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two stars and a half.
Definitely an interesting book about clothes in England during the 16th and 17th century, would've probably enjoyed it more if I didn't need to stress-read through it for uni. At least I can count it towards my reading goal hehe. ;)