Mens English Renaissance Dress
The splendor of the English Renaissance costume for men, was nowhere more evident than in an account of the meeting between Henry VIII and Francis I of France. Henry is said to have worn a doublet made of cloth of gold, a rose-colored velvet vest, a collar made of alternating rows of rubies and pearls, the order of Saint George, on an embroidered velvet ribbon, was draped around his neck. The boots he wore were of the softest yellow leather; and his roll-brim black velvet hat was encrusted with a band of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls, and trimmed with a curling long white feather. The middle portrait is of Henry's hated rival, Francis I.
One style of English Renaissance dress for the wealthy or noble man began with a plain or plaited linen shirt accented at the neck by a small ruffle or ruff. At the wrist, the sleeve was adorned with a similar ruff. Over this was worn a close-fitting square cut vest. Atop the vest, a tunic or doublet, that was slashed and reached nearly to the knee. The V-shaped opening of the tunic revealed the shirt and vest beneath. An example of this style can still be seen today in the uniforms of the "beef-eater" guards at the Tower of London.
Beneath the doublet,
the
trunks were very full,
slashed and puffed. The
hose, which
were
of
the finest
wool,
or in
the
case of royalty
silk,
were
attached to the
trunks
with jeweled
bands. Completing
the
ensemble was a
very full
knee-length
outer
garment
made from
velvet or cloth of gold. It was most often
trimmed with a
turnover
fur collar,
which made the
width
of the
shoulders
appear very broad.
Wide
elbow-length sleeves were
encircled with deep fur
bands.
One might have
several
pairs
of sleeves that could
be
laced on to
the garment,
depending upon
the
function
the
wearer was
attending.
For the house or
ballroom, the
gentleman
would wear a
similar
garment made
of
lighter-weight materials.
The portraits of
Henry VIII
above, depict him
wearing
this
style of
English
Renaissance dress.