The Renaissance Battle of the Sexes Online!

Men of the Renaissance usually wore clothing made of wool along with linen undergarments. Towards the end of the Renaissance, it was very common for men to wear hosiery (the more multi-colored, the more fashionable) and a jacket. Along with the hose came a pleated skirt. Special occasions such as weddings were perfect opportunities for everyone to wear their best velvets, taffetas, and silks.

Hats were frequently worn, and the style of them changed very rapidly. Clothing had the important role of acting as a social status symbol. The Aristocrats and the wealthy merchants tended to change their styles according to the dictates of fashion. Slashes in sleeves, silver and vivid colors, and puffed out breeches are some examples of this fashion madness. In many cities, laws were passed to minimize the extravagance of clothing in terms of the use of fine silks, but they were not very effective. Wealthy families would even dress their servants well, so that they would leave a good impression in public.

The holy orders, i.e. monks and priests, wore long, woolen Roman clothing. It was easy to tell apart the orders, because they were separated by color; the Benedictines wore black, the Cistercians wore white. (St. Benedict preferred that a monk’s clothing should be plain and comfortable.)

Most peasant men wore stockings or tunics, and during the winter months, leather boots were worn to keep the feet dry. The fibers of their clothing were much coarser than the fibers of the noblemen. These materials consisted mostly of hand-woven wool with sheepskin for cloaks, and other wool materials as shirts and pants.

Note: This page has been created as a result of research done by students at Plymouth-Salem High School as part of a Humanities class. All data presented, unless otherwise noted, derives from these research materials. Any inaccuracy of information is accidental. Thank you for visiting our site!

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