Although the fashion industry expanded in this era, the development of fash-
ion style and sophistication remained static. For example, there was no
distinction between summer and winter fashion unlike in the Roman Empire.
Also men and women wore similar long and floating clothing, covering the
whole body, all year round, until the fourteenth century. The social class,
however, continued to determine the choice of materials for dressing.
On the other hand, better and meticulous personal hygiene emerged and
more attention was paid to personal grooming. Sophisticated toilet and bath-
room systems were built and the adoption of the bathing tradition of the
Roman era was widespread. Public baths became available in most parts of
Europe almost round the clock. The use of cosmetics and make-up also
became important especially for women who had a strict code of honour but
at the same time were expected to look beautiful for men’s admiration. The
English invented eye shadow in the 13th century and with it the fad for make-
up. The mirror also emerged as an important accessory for both men and
women.
National differences and attitudes to beauty and fashion were also visible
during this period. For example, the Spanish use of red lipstick, the purple
make-up preference of Germans, the adoption of white by the English, and
the use of natural colours by Italians were all defined during this period.The Renaissance, Italy and fashion (15th and 16th centuries)
The explosion of the Renaissance period changed the face of fashion and art
forever. This was a period of cultural development in the whole of continen-
tal Europe. It was also an era of exchanges, inventions, discovery, communi-
cation and travel between the East and the West. The Asian world was
discovered by the Portuguese during this period and Christopher Columbus
also discovered America in 1492. There were also other discoveries notably
in medicine as well as cultural progression.
The Renaissance also witnessed the rise of great Italian artists such as
Leonardo Da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli and the birth of literature in Italy,
France, Spain and England which influenced society’s outlook on the arts and
fashion.
Fashion was, therefore, an integral aspect of this era. Clothes and acces-
sories were given an important role in the society as an indicator of social
class and knowledge. As a result clothes became an investment. In England
even tombstones bore the descriptions of the dressing of the deceased. Other
European countries such as Germany and Spain also emerged as important
influencers of fashion. For example, between the 16th and 17th centuries, the
fashion trend called ‘slashing’ which featured cutting slits in garments
through which linings were pulled, emerged in Germany and was adopted all20
luxury fashion branding