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Italian/Spanish Renaissance



Here we are in the Renaissance!

It was a period of great cultural changes and achievement that began in Italy during the 14th century and lasted until the 16th century, between Medieval and Early Modern Europe. This period was a turning point on people's attitude to clothes and their appearances. A lot of different goods were produced and consumed across the globe. This increased interaction with the overseas world.

Because there's a lot of information and style changes, we split up this period in 3 blogposts: The Italian/Spanish Renaissance, The Tudors and the Elizabethan era.

 

The first manifestation of the general European Renaissance was the Italian Renaissance (15th C).

Woman clothes had 3 layers of dresses:

  1. Camicia: long sleeve underdress

  2. Gamurra: hight-waisted dress with detachable sleeves

  3. Giornea: over-dress split up at the sides and belted below the bosom

note: Sleeves were detachable, because they got easily dirty. It was easier to clean their sleeves instead of cleaning their whole dress.

Men wore closely fitted clothes:

  • a doublet: fitted & buttoned jacket

  • a codpiece: a covering flap or pouch that attaches to the front of the crotch of men's trousers

  • hose: legging

  • giornea : over-jacket

  • a cape


Hair was center-parted with a braid at the back often incorporate ribbons or netting (Trinzale). Above it they wore the Lenza, a leather chord worn around the head to keep all this stuff in place. Other hairdo's were hair-taping, Benda's, complicated curls & (fake) braids,... Read more details on Margo's blog!

Also recognizable for this period is a very decorative detail on their sleeves, called "slash and puff" - the outer garment was slashed and the inner-garment was pulled trough.

The Italian palette was dusty with warm earth tones, red colors, dark tones and a lot of brocade.

 

Around the 16th Century Spain & Portugal was expanding, which reflected on their fashion. Everything got big, with huge sleeves and big skirts. A lot of gold and black velvet completely marked the Spanish court.

Woman

  • a busk (stiffened your torso, to hold all this heavy fabric)

  • sleeveless gown with detachable sleeves

  • large decorative puffs at the top of the sleeves.

  • a colletto: piece of fabric (lacework or pearls) on the neckline pinned on the dress

Men

Jerkin: close-fitting jacket worn over the doublet or chemise

Hose: legging

 

How people of the Italian Renaissance put on their makeup? What were their beauty rituals?

Check out Margo's beautiful illustrations and read more about this subject!


Next time we will illustrate the Tudors fashion and second post about the Renaissance. Stay tuned!

Do you want to know more about the Middle Ages? Go here.

Or read about our project: here.

sources:

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Hi there!

My name is Tinneke De Block,
aka Tinika. This blog* is a means of sharing my artwork, collaborations, studies & processes, mood boards, personal life posts, interior design, fashion (history), and lots of creative inspiration!

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