What are Renaissance Undergarments and How to Choose Them

[Body]

Alright, let’s gab about them fancy-pants clothes from back in the day, you know, the Renaissance times. I ain’t no scholar, mind you, but I can tell ya a thing or two about what they wore underneath all them fancy dresses and puffy shirts.

What are Renaissance Undergarments and How to Choose Them

What Them Men and Women Folks Wore Underneath

So, first off, everybody, men and women both, they wore this thing called a shirt or a chemise. It was made of linen, you know, like that fancy tablecloth your grandma used to have. Sometimes it was cotton, but mostly linen, they say. Holland or cambric, I think they called it. Sounded real highfalutin to me.

Now, these shirts weren’t nothin’ fancy at first. Just a plain ol’ thing to keep ya from itchin’, I reckon. But then, folks started gettin’ all kinds of ideas. Around 1520 or so, they started wearin’ shirts with high collars, all frilly and stuff. Looked like a dog collar to me, but hey, what do I know? These collars, they got bigger and bigger, and turned into somethin’ called a ruff. You know, like those big, stiff collars you see in them old paintings? Yeah, those things.

  • Shirts and Chemises: Made of linen or cotton, the basic undergarment for everyone.
  • High Collars and Ruffs: Started simple, then got all big and fancy.

Them Fancy Dresses and How They Got That Shape

Now, them dresses, they weren’t just fabric hangin’ loose. Oh no, they had all sorts of contraptions underneath to make ’em look all fancy. You heard of corsets? Yeah, them things that squeezed the life outta ya. Well, they wore ’em back then too. Squeezed them women in tight, gave ’em that tiny waist look. Can’t imagine breathin’ in one of them things, but hey, beauty is pain, I guess. That’s what them city folks always say.

What are Renaissance Undergarments and How to Choose Them

And then there was them hoop skirts, or farthin-somethin’s they called ’em. Big ol’ hoops under the skirt to make it stick out all around. Looked like a bell, if you ask me. I tell ya, walkin’ around in one of them things must’ve been a chore. Try gettin’ through a doorway, I bet ya couldn’t! But hey, it was the fashion, so they did it.

Dark Colors and Big Everything

Now, somethin’ else about them Renaissance clothes, they loved dark colors. Black, brown, deep blues, you name it. Not like today, with all them bright pinks and yellows. And everything was big, I mean really big. Them sleeves on their gowns, they were huge, like balloons. And the men, they wore these things called codpieces, right on the front of their pants. I ain’t gonna say what they looked like, but let’s just say they were… noticeable. And the headdresses? Don’t even get me started. Big, elaborate things, piled high on their heads. How they kept ’em from fallin’ off, I’ll never know.

Victorian Times, Not So Different

Now, this ain’t exactly Renaissance, but it’s kinda similar. In them Victorian times, they wore corsets too, and these things called crinolines and bustles. More contraptions to make them dresses look a certain way. Crinolines were like them hoop skirts, and bustles were for puffin’ out the back of the skirt. Seems like folks always been obsessed with makin’ their clothes do funny things, ain’t it?

What are Renaissance Undergarments and How to Choose Them

Still Fancy Today

You know, even today, them fancy designers, they still look back at them Renaissance clothes for ideas. Them corset shapes, the big sleeves, all that stuff. They call it “haute couture” now, sounds real fancy, but it’s just the same old stuff, dressed up a bit. And people still like to wear this old style, you can even see some cosplayers wear those clothes in some parties, it’s not very daily-used but those clothes are still kind of popular for some people.

So, there ya have it. A little bit about them Renaissance undergarments. Not as simple as a pair of long johns, that’s for sure. But hey, they made folks look good, even if they couldn’t breathe or walk through a doorway proper.

In conclusion, Renaissance undergarments laid the foundation for the era’s iconic silhouette. From simple linen chemises to elaborate corsets and hoop skirts, these foundational garments shaped not only the outer clothing but also the aesthetic ideals of the time. The evolution of these undergarments reflects changing tastes and social norms, demonstrating the significant role underwear played in fashion history. The influence of Renaissance undergarment styles can still be seen in contemporary fashion, proving the enduring legacy of this period’s sartorial innovations.

Tags: Renaissance Fashion, Undergarments, Corsets, Chemise, Ruff, 16th Century Clothing, Historical Fashion, Victorian Underwear, Crinolines, Bustles, Fashion History, Haute Couture

What are Renaissance Undergarments and How to Choose Them

Original article by the Author:Armani,If you intend to republish this content, please attribute the source accordingly:https://www.creativesfunding.com/2914.html