Brides in ancient Rome wore blue to represent love, humility, and loyalty. Blue is also connected with purity, as the Virgin Mary is frequently shown wearing it in Christian art. In Roman culture, both men and women could wear blue, but only women would wear it during their wedding ceremony. The color was important because it was the opposite hue of that of the emperor's purple garment. So by wearing blue, the bride or bride-to-be were showing that they were inferior to the emperor. During the Renaissance, when weddings were becoming more popular, blue started to be used for dresses too. It was one of the first colors used by manufacturers to sell clothes to women. At this time, blue was also being used to describe virtues such as wisdom, honesty, and faithfulness. This is why today when you see someone who is "wise" or "honorable" they are usually described as being in blue. After the marriage, if the wife didn't want to show her face, she would cover it with a veil. Under these conditions, blue became her mask. This is why we say about a woman who has been disguised: "She has been seen but not recognized." Finally, blue was used to symbolize loyalty and friendship.