Clothes through the ages

In Tudor England,
           men's dress became broader and more manly. Rich men wore suits of silk,
           velvet, or brocade, decorated with jewels. Sleeves were padded and 
           breeches were fashionable, worn with velvet stockings and wide, open 
           shoes. Bright colours were preferred, scarlet and green being very
           popular. Poor men still dressed in plain clothes of coarse wool or un-
           bleached linen, and slashing was forbidden to them by law. Tudor ladies
           wore heavy dresses of velvet or brocade, with loosely draped or winged 
           sleeves. Bodices were tight and the overdress was usually slit in front to
           show a richly embroidered underdress. Stiff, arch-shaped head-dresses 
           were fashionable. Poor women wore aprons over short-skirted dresses.
           White caps or thin strips of material would cover their hair.

In Elizabeth's reign,
           costume became stiffer, more awkward to wear, and very heavily 
           decorated. Elizabethan men and women wore ruffs or starched collars. 
           These were usually made of white cambric, and were heavily pleated,
           starched, and held in place by wires. They must have been very un-
           comfortable to wear. Rich men wore padded breeches, tightly fitting 
           tunics or doublets and velvet cloaks. Slashing was still used as a means
           of decoration and the silk, velvet, or brocade clothes could have jewels 
           sewn on them. Knitted stockings were now fashionable. Poor men wore 
           loose , belted doublets over plain shirts. Tight bodices and very full
           skirts were worn by ladies of this period. A wired underskirt called a
           farthingale was used to hold out the overdresses. Padded sleeves and 
           rich embroidery were popular. Ordinary women wore woollen dresses 
           and kirtles in dull colours.

After 1600,
           cotton was used for weaving into cloth, when the manufacture of cotton
           goods became an important industry centred around Lancashire. In the 
           seventeenth century clothes became less bulky. The Elizabethan ruff 
           disappeared and was replaced by the lace collar. During this period men
           wore loose trousers which fastened at the knee, doublets, and cloaks. 
           Wide-brimmed hats trimmed with feathers were popular. Later in this 
           era men's costume changed, and long coats with waistcoats and breeches
           became fashionable. This was the beginning of modern dress. Wigs were
           worn and gentlemen of fashion would carry a sword. Ladies of this period
           wore high-waisted, low-necked gowns of stiff silk or satin, trimmed with
           lace. Farthingales were no longer worn and the fontange style of head
           dress-a towering, wired, lace cap-was popular.

During The Eighteenth century,
       costume became more sober. This century marked the return towards 
          "classical" lines in clothing, the aim being refinement and daintiness in 
          everything. Knee-breeches gave way to trousers, tightly fitting coats 
          were replaced by loose frock-coats, and the sleeved waistcoat became 
          the shorter, sleeveless version that is known today. Wigs were worn by
          most men, and starched neckcloths or cravats became popular. A great 
          change also took place in women's fashion. At first dresses were made of
          heavy, rich materials and their full skirts were stretched over hooped 
          petticoats. Low necks were fashionable and ornamental panels called 
          stomachers were often inserted in the front bodices. At the turn of the
          century more flimsy materials were used and styles became simpler. 
          High-waisted dresses with narrow skirts were worn, and the tall,
          elaborate hairstyles that had been popular were replaced by shorter, 
          curlier styles. Tall ostrich-feathers were worn as hair decorations. In 
          this era poor men wore knee-breeches, shirts, and stout woollen stockings. 
          Short, sleeveless waistcoats worn with spotted neckerchiefs became 
          popular. Simple serviceable garments such as linen smocks were worn by
          farm workers. Plain gowns, aprons, and mob caps continued to be the garb 
          of working women.