- 17th Century Fashion -

NB: The dolls used here to illustrate 17th century fashion are by Kate's late mother Jill Bennett, they are not available for sale.

The Stuart Monarchs

James I - 1603 to 1625
Charles I - 1625 to 1649
Charles II - 1660 to 1685
James II - 1685 to 1688
William III & Mary II - 1689 to 1694
William III (alone) - 1694 to 1702

Above, a scene from Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. The comedy was first published in 1600 and performed at the Court of James I in 1604. Thomas Betterton produced a spectacular operatic adaption 'The Fairy Queen' with music by Henry Purcell in 1692. The work was shown at Jill's retrospective exhibition 'Mrs Gosoftly Presents: The Storytelling Art of Jill Bennett' in 2007.

Above we see a well to do merchant from the 1630's and below is his Lady.

At Charles II's return to England the plain dress of the Puritans gave way to colour and lace. The waistlines dropped, bosoms were in and so were wigs for men and lots of gorgeous fabrics.

As the century continued, women's corsets became stiffer and longer in front. Lacy 'fontages' rose like small towers from their caps.

Men continued to glow with gold braid and feathered hats on top of longer and even longer wigs.

Above a young Lady and below a noblewoman in her riding attire.

The lute (below) was an instrument waning in popularity as William III closed the century. Harpsichords and clavichords had developed to a point where they could hold their pitch and were taken up eagerly by ladies. Queen Anne, who was herself a fine musician, took the Stuart monarchy 12 years into the next century.

Dolls by: Jill Bennett (1934 - 2019)

- The Centuries-

15th Century

The Late Mediaeval.
The Dress of this period was characterised by rich materials and furs, extreme styles and profuse ornament. Fantastic head-dresses and distinct variations evolved as dress became indicative of rank or profession.

16th Century

The Tudors.
The 16th century saw the first introction of sleeves, they could be made of a different material or colour from the gown. Elaborate starched and pleated ruffs were very fashionable throughout this period.

17th Century

The Stuarts.
A quickening pace of change took place in fashion over this century. Conflicting Cavalier and Roundhead styles developed and sumptuary laws attempted to prevent the 'common people' from wearing the clothes of the wealthy.

18th Century

The Georgians.
The act of shopping and following fashionable clothing trends became popular with wealthy English society. At court ladies must wear the 'mantua'. A heavy dress that spreads out sideways over immensely wide hoops.

19th Century

Regency, George IV and Victoria.
Changes in outlook caused the abolition of overloaded finery and substituted garments more suited to active life. A graceful simplicity emerged even though skirts widened into the exagerated 'crinoline'.

20th Century

The Edwardians, George VI and Elizabeth II.
Drawing on multicultural sources, a rich variety of clothing evolved, with infuences from all corners of the world. The Second World War 'Utility' scheme constrained styles briefly, with peace came a celebration of modernity.