During the Renaissance, the richer and more prosperous members of a urban center, town or region often wore elaborate and highly adorned renaissance clothing that was hand crafted from a variety of rich and costly materials and finishes. In fact, the richer a family unit was the more expensive and ornate their Renaissance clothing was, as this was one of the chief ways of suggesting stature and riches during the Renaissance period of time.

Interestingly enough, as there was little opportunity for financial investment, the Renaissance clothing of the ruling classes was not only seen as indication of wealth, but a form of investment. If a family were to need money in the future, the clothing could be resold.The textiles that the wealthy and their designers favored during the Renaissance were cloths that were the hardest to acquire and consequently the most pricy and exclusive. This included cotton, velvet, silk and brocade. At the time, each of these was labor intensive and/or made a great distance away from Western Europe, such as in Egypt for cotton. Rich finishes such as ribbons, seed pearls and golden/silver thread were also generously embellished on the Renaissance clothing of the day.

During the period, Medieval clothing for women ebbed and flowed from more simplistic pieces, such as underskirts, bodices and gowns, to more intricate clothing that included skirts, petticoats, bodices, over bodices, hoops and collars. Men’s Renaissance dressing on the other hand, was often designed to accentuate the body shape, providing them with a more rounded look. Made out of the same rich colors and fabrics, their renaissance clothing often included padded shoulders and breeches, as well as hats, adorned with the same embroidery and fancy finishes that completed the Renaissance dresses for women.