page_title: 1500–1550 in Western European fashion
section_title: Overview
hierarchical_section_title: 1500–1550 in Western European fashion / Women's fashion / Overview
context_page_description: Fashion in the period 1500–1550 in Western Europe is marked by voluminous clothing worn in an abundance of layers. Contrasting fabrics, slashes, embroidery, applied trims, and other forms of surface ornamentation became prominent. The tall, narrow lines of the late Medieval period were replaced with a wide silhouette, conical for women with breadth at the hips and broadly square for men with width at the shoulders. Sleeves were a centre of attention, and were puffed, slashed, cuffed, and turned back to reveal contrasting linings.
  Henry VIII of England and Francis I of France strove to host the most glittering renaissance court, culminating in the festivities around the Field of Cloth of Gold. But the rising power was Charles V, king of Spain, Naples, and Sicily from 1516, heir to the style as well as the riches of Burgundy, and Holy Roman Emperor from 1520. The inflow of gold and silver from the New World into recently united Spain changed the dynamics of trade throughout Western Europe, ushering in a period of increased opulence in clothing that was tempered by the Spanish taste for sombre richness of dress that would dominate the second half of the century.
context_section_description: Women's fashions of the early 16th century consisted of a long gown, usually with sleeves, worn over a kirtle or undergown, with a linen chemise or smock worn next to the skin.
  The high-waisted gown of the late medieval period evolved in several directions in different parts of Europe.  In the German states and Bohemia, gowns remained short-waisted, tight-laced but without corsets or stays (see the difference between the two here). The open-fronted gown laced over the kirtle or a stomacher or plackard.  Sleeves were puffed and slashed, or elaborately cuffed.
  In France, England, and Flanders, the high waistline gradually descended to the natural waist in front (following Spanish fashion) and then to a V-shaped point.   Cuffs grew larger and were elaborately trimmed.
  Hoop skirts or farthingales had appeared in Spain at the very end of the 15th century, and spread to England and France over the next few decades.   Stays also appeared during this period.
  A variety of hats, caps, hoods, hair nets, and other headresses were worn, with strong regional variations.
  Shoes were flat, with broad square toes.
caption: Anne Stafford wears a black fur-lined gown with turned-back sleeves over a dark kirtle[13] She wears a soft sash at her waist and a sheer partlet over a square-necked chemise, c. 1535.
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