Court of Henry VIII
King Henry VIII is usually known for his extravagance and red-hot temper, but in addition to causing England's split from the Catholic Church, the period in which he ruled produced some of the most memorable fashion in all of history. Henry popularized a number of men's fashion trends, and his six wives each had their own influence on women's styles, particularly his first wife Catherine of Aragon, and second wife Anne Boleyn.
Women's Fashion
Catherine Parr, Queen of England, dressed in popular women's attire circa 1545
Women's clothing during Henry's reign followed a similar pattern to the previous period in regards to necklines and large sleeves, but included a more structured skirt shape and various additional accessories. Pearl necklaces were worn, often with multiple layers of gold chains or embellishments. Anne Boleyn's monogrammed pearl "B" necklace is an example of the statement pieces that were often worn by women of high status.
Hair was generally parted in the middle and covered either partially or fully by a hood.
Hair was generally parted in the middle and covered either partially or fully by a hood.
Catherine of Aragon and The Spanish Farthingale
When Henry's first wife, a Spanish princess named Catherine of Aragon, traveled from Spain to England to become queen, she brought with her an undergarment called "The Spanish Farthingale." This undergarment was a petticoat consisting of linen or canvas, lined with circular bands of cane, whalebone, or steel, and designed to be worn underneath a woman's gown to give it a wider and more structured shape. After Catherine introduced the undergarment to England in 1501, it's popularity skyrocketed and the Spanish Farthingale remained a staple of Tudor fashion through the reign of Elizabeth I.
Anne Boleyn and the French Hood
Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn, also brought foreign fashion to England, specifically The French Hood. After serving as maid of honor for seven years to to France's Queen Claude, Anne returned to England and eventually married Henry. Her fashion influence as queen was strong, and The French Hood overtook the English Gable Hood in popularity. The French Hood featured a more rounded shape, while also sitting further back on the wearer's head, exposing the hair. This style lost popularity after Anne's death, when Henry's third wife Jane Seymour made the switch back to the more conservative English Hood.
Jane Seymour, Queen of England, wearing an English Gable Hood circa 1536
Men's Fashion
King Henry VIII of England, dressed in popular Tudor men's attire circa 1536
Henry VIII's athleticism in his youth popularized the image of a strong and rugged male ideal. In contrast to the narrow silouette of men's clothing during his father's reign, a wider, more pointedly square shape became the norm. Very large sleeves were worn to create the illusion of extremely broad shoulders, and legs were exposed through tight-fitted hoes to display the shape of the wearer's calves. Henry himself was known to have had rather large calves, which likely led to this trend.
Headgear
Hats were an extremely popular accessory for men during Henry's reign, and many different styles were worn, including flat caps, scholar's caps, and French caps.
A Tudor man wearing a Chamarre
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The illusion of a square-shaped upper body with broad shoulders was popular among Tudor men, and a garment called the "Chamarre" was worn to create the desired shape. The fabric was cut into square or rectangular patterns, then worn with the pointed sleeves hanging down parallel to the wearer's torso. |
Edward VI of England, displaying the popular square-shaped silhouette
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