This was a true fear in Medieval England, so much so that laws were created and enforced to control what individuals of the different classes were allowed to wear. These laws were known as the Sumptuary Laws (acts of apparel). Society was broken up into seven categories, the Sumptuary Laws made members of each class easily distinguishable.
Such laws included: only the wealthy were allowed to wear vibrant colors like red and violet, fabrics like silk, satin, and velvet were only to be worn by the wealthy, the poor were restricted by garment length and heel height (the longer the garment the wealthier the individual, the shorter the garment the poorer the individual).
When these restrictive decrees were not followed, punishments (fines and confiscation of garments) were issued. Rewards were given to those who informed sheriffs or magistrates of offenders who were dressing outside of their class.
Why was the regulation of clothing so important? Was it a way to ensure that the lower class did not masquerade as the upper class? To prevent comingling between the classes? What do you, the reader, think?
Doda, Hilary. "Saide Monstrous Hose' Compliance, Transgression, and English Sumptuary Law to 1533." Textile History, 45.2 (2014): 171-191.
I love the picture you have chosen to post a long side of your blog post. Totally great. I think the reason clothing was so important was because people who were wealthy didn't want to associate with those who were not, I also believe that parents of the more well off children wouldn't want their kids associating with those "less fortunate." Just my thoughts :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I see your point, it is like they believed you can catch poverty like you can catch the common cold. Clothing seems to be just another way for someone to assert his or her power over another.
DeleteExactly!
DeleteThat makes me wonder if the reason that we often see witches dressed in long black or red robes was because they were breaking social norms by dressing outside of their station. It also reminds me of Ever After, how Danielle's best friends main concern about her dressing as a courtier to save her servant was that she was dressing outside of her station. He was worried that she would be put in the stocks.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was writing this I couldn't help but think of Ever After. The prince felt betrayed because he fell in love with a girl he could not marry, but for a moment happiness was in his grasp. Danielle may have masked her station but she did not mask her mind or personality. Thinking about this in terms of pop culture is definitely an interesting perspective to take.
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