Elizabethan Society and Elizabethan Hair

The Elizabethan era was the same time as Shakespeare, Francis Bacon. It was the times of Spanish Armanda, alongside Spanish rule the high seas. The economy was growing. Rich women would wear corsets, many women died due to broken ribs and the lack of doctors. The word 'pirates' came about due to men going at sea. Wealthy women were expected to be housemaids and mothers. Women were expected to be looked after a man as they were believed to be the weaker sex. If a woman was not married shed be looked after by her father or brother. Women were not allowed to have jobs such as law, doctors, politics. Although they could work in domestic service. Women were not allowed to appear in theatre either, Shakespeare often had young boys play the women in his plays. Women did have more freedom in the Elizabethan era than before which changed society.because Elizabeth was highly educated men wanted their daughters to also be bright and clever so they made sure their daughters were educated as well as their sons. Single women were often seen as being suspicious back then, people often thought of them as being witches.

"Elizabethan Clothing & Fashion - Women

Elizabethan Clothing & Fashion for women varied according to whether they were a member of the Nobility, Upper Class or one of the poor, working class. But whether a woman was wealthy or poor she was not allowed to wear whatever she liked... She could be richer than a Countess but if she did not have an equivalent title she was not allowed to wear clothes made of the same fabric or even of the same color!" Ref-http://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-clothing-fashion-women.htm

In the Elizabethan era women would wear many underclothing to make themselves seem smaller and skinnier making their waist look extra tiny. The clothing was not revealing at all, the dress's would be very grand and royal. A gown, gloves, separate sleeves, cloak, hat and ruff  was typically worn and expected by women. 

Elizabethan hairstyles:

Elizabethan hairstyles were strongly influenced by the queen herself. She wore very elaborate hairstyles including big hair styles with braids, curls and plenty of volume. She often wore hear shaped styles too. Her hair often had accessories in them too. Ribbons, bows etc. mirroring the fashion at the time ruffs and ruffles were popular in clothing this was shown in the hair also showing expensive materials and colours in the hair also. This was a sign of wealthiness. For younger women long flowing hair was a sign of purity and innocence. When they got married it would be up from then on. Even using fresh flowers on their wedding day too. French hoods were worn and fringes were not in fashion. The forehead was usually displayed with a middle parting, frizzy hair was in fashion with little curls. Accessories used in the hair were: the coif, the French hood, the attifet, the caul and the pillbox hat. Overall from what I've found with Elizabethan hair it's very different to now although contemporary editions to Elizabeth's hair are still around using curling, plats and braids. 

Reference:

1. Artist: George Gower
2. Location: Woburn Abbey
3. Created: 1588
4. Media: Oil paint, Oak