The Renaissance period is said the be the "Great Chain of Being." The clothing style keeps changing every year. No one knows what to expect next. The people of today never had rules to follow. The people wear whatever they want. Back in the Renaissance period though, they did have rules for each of the classes of men and women. The children to the nobilities had different ways of dressing.
             The Renaissance people had some rules they had to follow for the classes they were in. They have a mandatory dress code for each class. The person could not dress above his or her station. The royalty wore true purple, the middle class could not wear gold or silver trim, and the nobility wore black. If one walked by, he could tell what station the other person was in just by looking at him. It is said that it made life easier. Proper behavior to a person above or below them is very important. If one would touch a nobility, he would get a beating of his life would be on the line (Ohio Ren. 36). For weddings and special occasions this was an excuse to wear expensive silks and damask, velvet, and taffet. The clothes were an important mark of class distinction. The wealthy family would distribute smart clothes to servants so the whole family would give a good impression in public (Cavendish 20). Men and women shared equally in color and splendor of clothing (Cavendish 41).
             The peasant men did not have the best clothes to wear. Peasant men usually wore a shift of shirt with breeches and jerkins over that. It was made of leather and wool. There was a pouch on the belt to carry personal belongings. All but the poorest man
             would wear socks and shoes of leather. The hats were supposed to keep his hair out of his face (Ohio Ren 37).
             The men in the lower class dressed similar to the peasants, but they had a few extra belongings. The men in the lower class wore a shirt or shift and breeches of some kind. He might wea...