The Jeweled Bodice

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the Jeweled bodice
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The Renaissance Was a Great Fashion Awakening

• As society moved out of the Dark and Middle Ages,
  people had more money and spare time.
• This abundance led to more extravagant fashion,
  including fine embroidery work and often
  bejeweled clothing.
• Renaissance clothing was the birth of "Power
  Dressing" as wealthier members of society could
  afford more extravagant clothing, setting them
  apart from the masses.

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Renaissance Women Girls Fashion "Must-Haves"

• The chemise was worn by both girls and women
  along with a variety of underclothes and outer
  garments.
• Over the chemise, both fashionable and
  working-class women wore a bodice.
• Only the most fashionable women wore gowns, which
  were a skirt and bodice sewn or laced together.
  These dresses were made of fine velvet, silk, or
  damask and embellished with fine embroidery and
  even jewels.

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The Renaissance Bodice Served Multiple Purposes

• The bodice was a Renaissance version of the bra,
  offering support for the bosom.
• It also served as a girdle, helping the torso to
  appear flatter and slimmer.
• The bodice additionally acted as a fashionable
  vest.
• The bodice changed during the Renaissance era. It
  was low-cut in the front at the beginning and end
  of the period, with higher necklines during the
  middle of the age.

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Eye-and-Hook Fasteners over Buttons

• Buttons werent strong enough to support the
  stress of the bodice, so instead the bodice was
  laced or fastened with hook-and-eye fasteners.
• Working-class women wore the bodice laced up the
  front.
• Middle-class women usually laced their bodice up
  the sides.
• Only the wealthiest women, who could afford
  servants to help put it on, laced their bodice up
  the back.

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The RenaissanceWomans Silhouette

• The bodice was the perfect piece of clothing to
  accentuate the Renaissance womans shape.
• The bodice helped to highlight a slender waist
  while lifting the bosom.
• In addition, the wide, flowing sleeves and skirt
  helped create the classic hourglass shape women
  have strived to achieve for centuries.

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How to Achieve the Renaissance Look Today
Women and girls can easily recreate the
Renaissance look with a few key pieces
A chemise
A peasant skirt
A bodice
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A TraditionalWOMEN's Bodice

• The traditional bodice for recreating the
  Renaissance look includes
• Elaborate trim work, such as jacquard trim
• Dangling jewels
• A lace-up front
• A fitted bodice made of washable cotton and
  velveteen
• A lined bodice is ideal for supporting the weight
  of the lifted-bosom style

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Wear the Bodice with a Chemise and Peasant Skirt

• Look for a flowing chemise in white
• Pair the bodice and chemise with a peasant skirt
• Look for a full skirt to mimic the style of full
  petticoats underneath

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About The Tudor Shoppe
The Tudor Shoppe offers everything you need to
create a Renaissance outfit for plays, Halloween,
cosplay, and much more. Available in both women's
and girls' sizes, these costumes are easy to care
for and made to last. The Tudor Shoppe also
features Renaissance costumes for men, in
addition to an impressive line of other costumes,
accessories, shoes, puppets, and much more.
Visit their stunning collection today at
www.tudorshoppe.com!
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Summary

• The Renaissance was the beginning of the modern
  age of fashion, when people had enough abundance
  to care about what they wore, not just about
  survival. During this era, layers and layers of
  clothing were worn, both for looks and for
  warmth. Today, you can recreate this look with a
  few simple pieces, including the bodice.