Elizabethian Era Research

 

Wikipedia Queen Elizabeth Portrait (Unknown)[Online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I (Accessed: 22nd September 2022)

Introduction

The Elizabethan era is named after Queen Elizabeth the first, also known as the virgin queen. Queen Elizabeth reigned from 1558 till 1603. Historians often refer to this era as the golden age of English History. This has lead to it being romanticised in many ways. The Elizabethan age is considered to be a time of English renaissance that inspired national pride through classical ideals, international expansion, and naval triumph. (The Lost Colony, 2022).

Elizabethan Makeup

Grassroots Shakespeare Blog Queen Elizabeth Portrait (Unknown)[Online] Available at: https://grassrootsshakespeare.com/blog/2015/10/22/queen-elizabeths-make-up-a-frightening-history-in-beauty/ (Accessed: 22nd September 2022)

Unlke previous times, it was no longer vulgar and women increasing started to wear makeup. Even scented products like perfume started showing up within high society. Women were known for painted their faces white to show their high status in society and make themselves look more intriging to men. The makeup they used to give themselves such a pale skintone was lead based while also containing  hydroxide and carbonate. Women would often apply a new layer of makeup without removing the previous layer, leading to layers of product build up on the skin.

Byrdie Male Portrait (Unknown)[Online] Available at:https://www.byrdie.com/history-makeup-gender (Accessed: 22nd September 2022)

Like Women, men would wear makeup that would whiten their face as to make them seem like they were from a higher class. They would also used products that contained lead. 

Elizabethan Fashion

History 446 Elizabethan Noble Woman (2015)[Online] Available at: https://publish.illinois.edu/christinaohanesian/2015/10/20/elizabethan-fashion/ (Accessed: 22nd September 2022)

Some of the hallmarks of Elizabethan fashion was sepereated by nobility.

Royal and noblewomen had access to finer materials while also being allowed to wear richly decorated clothes. However, they were confined to certain styles. Anyone found not adhering to clothing rules was subject to punishment. One of these rules included materials: Women in this class were able to wear luxurious fabrics and furs, such as silk, sable, velvet and satin. Another rule was colours: A queen and her immediate family wore allowed to wear purple, but they were the only ones allowed to. Other noblewomen could wear gold, silver, grey, black and even crimson. (Sandeen, 2022).

Yassal Elizabethan Man (2015)[Online] Available at: https://yowitzbobo.wordpress.com/2015/08/17/art/ (Accessed: 22nd September 2022)

Fashion for men also varied according to social status. But whether a man was wealthy or poor he was not allowed to wear whatever he liked. He could be richer than a Duke but if he did not have an equivalent title he would not allowed to wear clothing made of the same fabric or even of the same color.

Elizabethan Hair

Pinterest User 'Flickr' Elizabethan Womens Hairstyles (Unknown)[Online] Available at: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/336573772124571604/ (Accessed: 22nd September 2022)

Like fashion, hairstyles would vary between classes. The hair was usually designed to accompany the clothing the person was wearing. For women, fringes were not in fashion so they were more often than not combed away from the forehead. Alot of women would also wear headresses. Woman would often keep their hair long as it was seen as a display of virginity. It would usually be styled into a bun so a head covering could be pinned into it

Elizabethan England Life Male Hair and Beard Styles (2022)[Online] Available at: https://elizabethanenglandlife.com/elizabethan-hairstyles.html (Accessed: 22nd September 2022)

What started as short closely cropped hairstyles increased in length during the Elizabethan Era. More time was spent grooming the hair, especially since it was now fashionable to sport a longer length style. Long hair was required to be curly and men would often curl their hair with hot irons. To keep the hair in place products wax or gum was applied to the hair.
It was also fashionable for men to have beards during the Elizabethan era. The styles and cut of beards changed with the fashion of the day. The beards would be cut in various styles including pointed, square, round or oblong. Starch was often applied to keep the beards in place. 

References

Alchin, L.K. Elizabethan Clothing & Fashion - Men (2022). Available at: https://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-clothing-fashion-men.htm (Accessed: 2 November 2022).

Alchin, L.K. Elizabethan Hair Styles (2022). Available at: https://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-hair-styles.htm (Accessed: 2 November 2022).

Byrdie (2022) From 4000 BCE to Today: The Fascinating History of Men and Makeup. Available at: https://www.byrdie.com/history-makeup-gender#toc-elizabethan-england (Accessed: 2 November 2022).

Neale, J.E. (1959) in Essays in elizabethan history. New York: St. Martin's Press. (Accessed: 2 November 2022)

Serras, L (2021) Elizabethan Makeup 101 Available at: https://www.fragrancex.com/fragrance-information/elizabethan-makeup.html#:~:text=Women%20would%20paint%20their%20faces,without%20removing%20the%20first%20layer. (Accessed: 2 November 2022)

Sandeen, D (2022) Elizabethan Womens Fashion. Available at: https://womens-fashion.lovetoknow.com/Elizabethan_Fashion_for_Women (Accessed: 2 November 2022).

The Lost Colony (2022) Elizabethan Era. Available at: https://www.thelostcolony.org/the-lost-colony/bring-history-to-life/elizabethan-era/ (Accessed: 2 November 2022).