Renaissance Dress Code: Sumptuary Laws and Social Class

Abstract

Renaissance fashion came with all sorts of extravagant fabrics and accessories, but at what cost? City governments created laws that strictly regulated clothing, called sumptuary laws, to restrict specific groups of people from spending on, wearing, and owning lavish clothing. The history of sumptuary laws is sparse but evidence of it is still seen in various legal documents, paintings, and theatrical plays, which this paper will discuss. By examining its history, we can learn about the moral and religious anxieties of Renaissance societies. Furthermore, the paper will analyze the social and economic motivations of sumptuary laws while examining the effectiveness of these laws across various cities in Italy (Bologna, Florence, and Siena) and Germany (Nuremberg and Leipzig).