In Tudor England, what people wore indicated their social class. Rich Tudors wore elaborate outfits made from expensive imported fabrics like silk and velvet that took weeks to make, while peasants wore simple, rough clothes of wool, cotton or leather that they made themselves and wore until threadbare. Both rich and poor rarely bathed, but the rich used perfumes and face powders to mask body odor, with lead-based powders sometimes poisoning its users.

2. In Tudor times people wore very differentIn Tudor times people wore very different
clothes to clothes we wear today.clothes to clothes we wear today.
Today we can wear clothes made fromToday we can wear clothes made from
synthetic fabricsynthetic fabric such assuch as nylon, polyesternylon, polyester andand
acrylicacrylic. These fabrics are made using. These fabrics are made using
chemicalschemicals. They are hard wearing and easy. They are hard wearing and easy
to wash.to wash.
Our clothes are easy to fasten, usingOur clothes are easy to fasten, using zipszips,,
popperspoppers andand velcrovelcro..

3. In Tudor times there were noIn Tudor times there were no syntheticsynthetic
fabricsfabrics. All Tudor clothes were made. All Tudor clothes were made
from onlyfrom only natural fabricsnatural fabrics – fabrics that– fabrics that
came from animals or plants.came from animals or plants.
These fabrics included:These fabrics included:
wool, silk, leather, satin. Velvet andwool, silk, leather, satin. Velvet and
fur (from animals)fur (from animals)
cottoncotton andand hessian from plantshessian from plants..
Rich Tudor people (Royal, Lords andRich Tudor people (Royal, Lords and
Noblemen, rich merchants) woreNoblemen, rich merchants) wore
clothes that were cut and sewnclothes that were cut and sewn
together very carefully into eye-together very carefully into eye-
catching shapes and designs.catching shapes and designs.
The fabrics (silk, cotton, fur) cameThe fabrics (silk, cotton, fur) came
from far away countries and so werefrom far away countries and so were
very expensive. The clothes took avery expensive. The clothes took a
long time to make – sometimes up tolong time to make – sometimes up to
12 weeks.12 weeks.

4. Rich and important Tudor men wore all theseRich and important Tudor men wore all these
expensive clothes to show they were rich andexpensive clothes to show they were rich and
important.important.
They wore:They wore:
Linen cotton shirtLinen cotton shirt ::
chemisechemise
HoseHose (long socks)(long socks)
DoubletDoublet (padded jacket(padded jacket
with detailed designs)with detailed designs)
Trunk HoseTrunk Hose oror BreechesBreeches
(trousers)(trousers)
RuffRuff (frilled neck collar)(frilled neck collar)
CapeCape (made(made
from animal furfrom animal fur
or cotton velvet)or cotton velvet)
Velvet HatVelvet Hat

5. This portrait ofThis portrait of Henry VIIIHenry VIII shows himshows him
wearing very expensive clothes thatwearing very expensive clothes that
only the richest people in Englandonly the richest people in England
could buy.could buy.
HisHis Padded DoubletPadded Doublet has little cuts in it,has little cuts in it,
calledcalled slashesslashes, which allowed the, which allowed the
small puffs of the white linen shirtsmall puffs of the white linen shirt
underneath to be pulled through andunderneath to be pulled through and
make an interesting design.make an interesting design.
It also has real jewels, such asIt also has real jewels, such as
SapphiresSapphires andand RubiesRubies sown into it.sown into it.
Henry’s coat has huge, wide shouldersHenry’s coat has huge, wide shoulders
which have beenwhich have been paddedpadded withwith
whale bonewhale bone andand cotton stuffingcotton stuffing..
The coat is trimmed at the edges withThe coat is trimmed at the edges with
the dark brown fur ofthe dark brown fur of minkmink..
These clothes and all the paddingThese clothes and all the padding
made Henry look verymade Henry look very strong, powerfulstrong, powerful
and wealthyand wealthy – which is how a king had– which is how a king had
to look if he wanted people to obeyto look if he wanted people to obey
him and do what he said!him and do what he said!

6. Rich ladies in Tudor times had to wear lots of layers ofRich ladies in Tudor times had to wear lots of layers of
clothing to show how rich and important their familyclothing to show how rich and important their family
was. To get dressed they had to wear:was. To get dressed they had to wear:
Linen (cotton)Linen (cotton)
UnderdressUnderdress oror
chemisechemise
FarthingaleFarthingale
(skirt with whale(skirt with whale
bone hoops)bone hoops)
PetticoatPetticoat (skirt(skirt
worn over theworn over the
farthingale)farthingale)
Padded rollPadded roll
(to make skirts(to make skirts
and dress stickand dress stick
out)out)
KirtleKirtle (rich(rich
designeddesigned
panel skirt)panel skirt)

7. The rich ladies dress was completed with:The rich ladies dress was completed with:
French HoodFrench Hood
(fan shaped headdress)(fan shaped headdress)
Dress with V shape cutDress with V shape cut
out at the bottom to showout at the bottom to show
the Kirtlethe Kirtle
Separate sleeves trimmedSeparate sleeves trimmed
with furwith fur
Silver PomanderSilver Pomander
(with sweet smelling(with sweet smelling
flowers and herbs inside)flowers and herbs inside)

8. This is a portrait ofThis is a portrait of Lady Jane GreyLady Jane Grey when shewhen she
becamebecame Queen of EnglandQueen of England..
She is wearing the latest Tudor fashion forShe is wearing the latest Tudor fashion for
ladies clothing.ladies clothing.
Her clothes have been cut and padded toHer clothes have been cut and padded to
makemake very strong shapesvery strong shapes, which the Tudors, which the Tudors
liked to see in the clothes of importantliked to see in the clothes of important
wealthy people.wealthy people.
What types of shapes can you see in herWhat types of shapes can you see in her
clothing?clothing?
What other features on her clothing can youWhat other features on her clothing can you
see?see?

9. PeasantPeasant people in Tudor timespeople in Tudor times
wore very different clothes towore very different clothes to
Rich Tudors.Rich Tudors.
Peasants had very little moneyPeasants had very little money
and so they made their ownand so they made their own
clothes.clothes.
They made their clothes mainlyThey made their clothes mainly
fromfrom wool, rough cotton andwool, rough cotton and
leatherleather..
They would wear the sameThey would wear the same
clothes all the time, every day,clothes all the time, every day,
until they wore out, and onlyuntil they wore out, and only
then would the peasants makethen would the peasants make
new clothes.new clothes.

10. Many peasants and poor Tudor people wore:Many peasants and poor Tudor people wore:
Wool or leather capWool or leather cap
Rough cotton shirtRough cotton shirt
Wool coat or TunicWool coat or Tunic
Wool breechesWool breeches
(trousers)(trousers)
Rough cotton capRough cotton cap
Leather boots or shoesLeather boots or shoes
Rough cottonRough cotton
or woolor wool
dressdress
Rough cotton apronRough cotton apron
Wool skirtWool skirt
CottonCotton
chemisechemise oror
underdressunderdress

11. Did you know?Did you know?
Tudor people neverTudor people never
had a bath!had a bath!
Peasant Tudors never washed and only changed theirPeasant Tudors never washed and only changed their
clothes when they wore out.clothes when they wore out.
Rich Tudors hardly ever washed and only changedRich Tudors hardly ever washed and only changed
their clothes for different events they were going to.their clothes for different events they were going to.
Often, ladies would wear a new dress over the top ofOften, ladies would wear a new dress over the top of
an old one that had worn out!an old one that had worn out!
To cover up the smell of their bodies, Rich TudorTo cover up the smell of their bodies, Rich Tudor
ladies and men would wear perfume.ladies and men would wear perfume.

12. Elizabeth I was a very unusual TudorElizabeth I was a very unusual Tudor
because she would have a bath andbecause she would have a bath and
wash once every month!wash once every month!
She would also wear white powder onShe would also wear white powder on
her face. Many Rich Tudor ladies woreher face. Many Rich Tudor ladies wore
white powderwhite powder on their faces becauseon their faces because
they liked to show people that theythey liked to show people that they
stayed inside and did not get astayed inside and did not get a suntansuntan..

13. A suntan in Tudor times meant that you worked outside a lot.A suntan in Tudor times meant that you worked outside a lot.
Only the peasants worked outside and got suntans.Only the peasants worked outside and got suntans.
Therefore, Rich Tudor ladies woreTherefore, Rich Tudor ladies wore white powderwhite powder toto
exaggerate their pale skin colour and show they were not likeexaggerate their pale skin colour and show they were not like
peasants with suntans.peasants with suntans.
The white powder was made from the metalThe white powder was made from the metal leadlead which waswhich was
crushed into a fine powdercrushed into a fine powder..
LeadLead metalmetal isis poisonouspoisonous..
Elizabeth IElizabeth I wore so much powdered lead that shewore so much powdered lead that she dieddied inin
1603 of1603 of lead poisoning.lead poisoning.

14. Can you identify which are the Richest Tudors, and which are the PoorestCan you identify which are the Richest Tudors, and which are the Poorest
Tudors in this picture?Tudors in this picture?
Can you tell what jobs these Tudors did from their clothes?Can you tell what jobs these Tudors did from their clothes?