Elizabethan Menswear

Elizabethan cloaks were an essential item of clothing for both men and women of the era. Cloaks came in varying lengths - some covered as far as the waist, others as far as the knee and some reached the floor. Womens cloaks were fastened at the neck and covered the shoulders but some of the men's cloaks were flung back over the shoulder and draped over their backs. They had long ties to hold them on, which were fastened under the arm and tied across the body in front.

 

Cloaks were full and often fastened with broaches, clasps or gold chains. They were also decorated and hung with points and tassels. Points were lacings with metal ends which were used instead of buttons or hooks for fastening together such clothes as doublets and hose.

 

The hoods and collars of the cloaks gave a perfect opportunity to demonstrate their rank or position by wearing fur lined cloaks. The type of furs that the Nobility and Upper classes were allowed to wear was dictated by the English Sumptuary Laws, with the type of fur indicated the rank or status of the wearer:

 

-Cloaks trimmed with Sable Fur were only worn by Royalty, Dukes, Marquises, and Earls and Duchesses, Marquises and Countesses

-Cloaks trimmed with Lucernces (fur from the lynx) were only worn by Dukes, Marquises, Earls, and their children, Viscounts, Barons, and Knights of the Garter and their wives, or any person being of the Privy Council

-Cloaks trimmed with Genet (fur from a member of the mongoose family, similar to a cat) were only worn by Dukes, Marquises, Earls, and their children, Viscounts, Barons, and Knights of the Garter and their wives, or any person being of the Privy Council

-Cloaks trimmed with Leopards were only worn by Baron's sons, Knights and Ambassadors and their wives

-Cloaks trimmed with Wolf were only worn by Baron's sons, Knights and Ambassadors and their wives

-Cloaks trimmed with Foins (fur of the beech marten, a weasel-like animal) were only worn by courtiers

-Cloaks trimmed with Budge (lambskin from North Africa and Spain) were only worn by courtiers