1. Tudor clothes
LO: To research and explain the fashion and styles in Tudor society.

2. How do we know what the Tudors wore?
There are many paintings of Tudors especially the Tudor king and queens. By studying these paintings we can see what clothes were worn by the Tudors, especially rich Tudor people.

3. Tudor England is famous for its beautiful and ornate clothing, particularly during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
She was very fond of clothes and is said to have left over 2,000 decorated dresses hanging in her wardrobe when she died.
Why do you think clothes were important to her? What do they say about her?

4. Women’s clothes Head dress
Corset - stiffened with wood to flatten all lumps and bumps.
Gown - split at the front to reveal the kirtle. Sleeves were either sewn in or tied on.
Kirtle - the main underskirt, coloured at the front.

5. Men’s clothes
Hat
Doublet – tight-fitting jacket that was stuffed and then quilted.
Coat
Breeches – tied at the knee with laces.

6. Did everyone wear the same clothes?
The clothes of the wealthy were decorated with jewels and embroidered with gold thread.
Middle class people like traders and craftsmen wore plainer versions of these outfits.
Poor people wore simple, loose-fitting clothes made from woollen cloth.

7. Your task
You must produce a double page spread for a Tudor ‘glossy’ magazine. It needs to explain to the readers all about the latest fashions and styles. Obviously your readers will want to know what the best dressed men & women are wearing.
Include as much historical detail as possible. To help with your research, use the website elizabethancostume.net (click on the link).
Make your work look as professional as possible – use accurate and clear images.
You could add a section on make up too!

8.  Extension task
Why not have a go at including additional features, like a crossword to test students’ knowledge of Tudor England?

9. Plenary: Would you have liked to have worn such clothes??
With your partner, discuss:
Whether you would have liked to have worn the latest Tudor fashions.
Are there activities and sports that you would not be able to do if you had to wear such clothes?
Do you think that Tudor fashion helped to place restrictions on women?