Two Family More Ladies, Princess Elizabeth
Elizabeth Brydges & Queen Elizabeth

Women's Garment Myths

Myth: Farthingales were worn throughout the entire Tudor era.

Farthingales were first recorded in the English Royal Warderobe Accounts in 1545 for Princess Elizabeth. Farthingales were unlikely to be worn during most of Henry's reign. While Katherine of Aragon, Henry's first wife, was said by Herbert Norris to have brought farthingales to England from Spain, where they were fashionable, the fashion did not seem to be popular in England, as neither images nor effigies in England depict a cone-shape stiffened profile until 1545 or so.

Farthingales changed shape during Elizabeth's reign. Starting with the continuation of the Spanish farthingale, to a rounder bell shape (possible bum roll), to the French wheel farthingale.

Detail from a prepatory sketch of the More Family, by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1527.

Princess Elizabeth, attributed to the Flemish School, c.1545-47

Elizabeth Brydges, a maid of honor to Elizabeth I by Hieronimo, 1589.

The Ditchley Portrait by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger, c.1592.

More info on various farthingales can be found at Farthingales & Bumrolls, by Sarah Lorraine Goodman: http://modehistorique.com/elizabethan/farthingales.html