Textiles and Dress

Color of clothing

The color of clothing is an aesthetic element that significantly impacts appearance and influences how others perceive the wearer, including their socio-economic standing. Historically, societies have regulated and assigned meaning to clothing colors. Sumptuary laws in medieval Europe restricted expensive dyes, like purple, to the nobility. During the Tudor period, crimson was reserved for higher chivalric ranks. Colors also carry social, cultural, and political significance. They are associated with gender stereotypes, mourning, and religious practices. Colors also identify political parties, sports teams, and professions, as seen in uniform colors or terms such as white-collar and blue-collar.

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See also

• ▸Earring
• ▸John Bull (composer)
• ▸Cope

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