Picture Library - Ladies' Dress

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Ladies' Dress

The earliest brasses of women show them wearing long loose-fitting gowns, often revealing the buttoned close-fitting sleeves of an under gown, as at Trotton and Wimbish. By the late 14^th century gowns became very close fitting, while the slits of the sleeveless over gown had become deep and broad, as shown by Elizabeth Cobham's brass, though a loose all-enveloping gown with a deep belt was sometimes worn as an alternative, as at Great Shelford. Close-fitting gowns, with deep V-necks like that worn by Elizabeth Seyntmour, remained in fashion during the later 15^th century. Skirts became increasingly full and by the early 16^th century gowns also featured wide square necks and fur collars and cuffs, like on Elizabeth Bruges' brass. From the later 16^th century, the skirts were open to reveal a richly patterned underskirt, exemplified at Thornbury and Redgrave. Initially women are shown with their head covered by simple veils, but from the mid 14^th century the head-dresses became increasingly elaborate. Styles shown include nebulée (Lingfield), horned (South Petherton), butterfly (Beckington), pedimental (Deerhurst) and French hood (Thornbury) head-dresses.

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Page last updated 03 October 2002