Sumptuary Laws: The Curious Fashion Rules From The Past
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Thursday, January 2, 2025
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The freedom to dress as one sees fit is quite recent. Throughout centuries, fashion rules dictated how men and women should present themselves in society, and many pieces and styles that are relevant nowadays were forbidden or reserved for specific classes or special occasions up to the 20th century, which is a quite recent period in the complete fashion history timeline.
In the past, regulations governing dress and appearance were stringent. They were called “sumptuary laws” and were drawn up by kings or city officials appointed specifically to control dress.
Sumptuary laws defined the types, quality, and quantity of items that each social group was allowed to wear. The purpose of these laws was to limit personal expenditures and excess (not only in clothing but also in food, drink, household, and other aspects of daily life), reinforce social hierarchies, and set moral standards.
The Origins
Sumptuary laws go back to ancient times, with most records found in Ancient Greece. There,