Have you ever watched a historical drama and wondered what it might have been like to wear the outfits for that period? You see so many reenactment groups online and you are envious of their talents for being able to bring clothing from the past, especially clothes from the 16th century, to life in the modern age. What might it have been like to dress like a lord or a lady? What about a commoner or a monk? How did fashion change throughout the Tudor dynasty? Judith Arnopp answers all of these questions and more in her latest book, “How to Dress Like a Tudor.”
I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I am not usually one who has an interest in fashion, but historical fashion and its evolution is an area that does pique my interest. When I heard that there was going to be a book about Tudor fashion by Judith Arnopp, I jumped at the opportunity to read it.
Arnopp begins by explaining how the Tudor dynasty marked a big change when it came to fashion and the sumptuary laws that determined what people could and could not wear according to their social status. We see how different the clothing styles were during the reign of Henry VII compared to his over-the-top son Henry VIII and how Edward VI acted like his father in portraitures. Mary I paved the way for what it meant to be a female ruler in England, but it was Elizabeth I who exemplified the importance of iconography and one’s legacy through fashion and portraits.
The bulk of this book focuses on the individual clothing items for each gender, age, and social status in Tudor England. We begin with Tudor women and their garments, the type of materials that would be used to create the garments, and what colors and different flowers symbolized. Arnopp explores menswear, including the infamous codpiece in both court dress and on the battlefield. We see how the typical court dress differs from how children and clergy dress every single day. Finally, Arnopp shares her tips as an experienced reenactor to help novices get into the field of reenactments.
Overall, I found this book rather enjoyable and an easy-to-understand guide to 16th-century English fashion. I would read novels about the Tudor era and I would get confused about the individual garments, so this helped me with the terminology. The part that was a little flat for me was the practical element where Arnopp would describe step by step how to make each garment. I am not versed in sewing terminology so it was a bit hard for me to follow along. However, I think if you are interested in reenactments or just Tudor fashion in general, I would highly suggest you read, “How to Dress Like a Tudor” by Judith Arnopp.
In any society throughout history, there are certain rules and regulations which citizens must follow to maintain order. When there is a transfer of power, those rules and their punishments shift a little bit to fit the vision of those who are in power. England was in a chaotic spiral as law and order were thrown asunder during the Wars of the Roses. The rise of the Tudors marked another shift to the justice system of England, with each monarch during this dynasty, the legal system changed yet again. In her book, “Crime and Punishment in Tudor England: From Alchemists to Zealots,” April Taylor examines the crimes of Tudor England and their respective punishments through case studies.
King Henry VIII’s six wives each have their unique story that transcends time. Katherine of Aragon was his first wife, the mother of Mary Tudor, and the one Henry left behind after 24 years to marry his mistress Anne Boleyn, the most famous of his wives and the mother of Elizabeth Tudor. Anna of Cleves had the shortest marriage to Henry VIII and ended up with an excellent annulment deal. Catherine Howard was young and a bit naive when it came to the ways of men, which led to her downfall while Catherine Parr survived until the end of Henry VIII’s reign. These five women are stories we know by heart, but the one whose story remains a mystery is Jane Seymour, Henry’s third wife, and the mother of the future King Edward VI. In her debut book, “Jane Seymour: An Illustrated Life” Carol-Ann Johnston tells the story of the wife who gave Henry his desired son.
When we think about food during the Tudor dynasty, one of the first images that pop into our head is of Charles Laughton, who played King Henry VIII in “The Private Life of Henry VIII” from 1933. He is seen in a popular image online devouring a chicken at a Tudor feast. We assume that the Tudors were indulgent regarding their food, not caring about what they put in their bodies and their benefits. However, the recipes from this period, from the beginning of King Henry VII’s reign to the death of Queen Elizabeth I, tell a different story. In her debut nonfiction book, “Eating with the Tudors: Food and Recipes,” Brigitte Webster shows how the political and religious changes during the Tudor dynasty affected how those living in England ate every day.
The tales of the Tudor kings are unique in how they became kings of England. We all know the story of how Prince Henry became King Henry VIII. His eldest brother, Prince Arthur, died shortly after he married the Spanish Princess Katherine of Aragon. Much has been discussed about Arthur’s wedding night and death, but not much has been written about his time as the Prince of Wales. In his debut book, “Arthur, Prince of Wales: Henry VIII’s Lost Brother” Gareth Streeter explores the life of the first Tudor prince.
The year is 1523, and England is again preparing for war against its mortal enemy, France. Cardinal Wolsey is firmly in power as King Henry VIII’s right-hand man who is about to open Parliament, but Sir Thomas More’s star is slowly rising. London is busy, and at the center of it, all is Wolsey’s trumpeter and groom, Anthony Blanke. In this chaos of Wolsey’s household where murder and betrayal lie, and the enemies of the Cardinal begin to pile up. It is up to Anthony Blanke to clear his name and find the murderer before it is too late. Anthony’s latest thrilling adventure occurs in Steven Veerapen’s novel, “Of Judgement Fallen: An Anthony Blanke Tudor Mystery.”
What was the first book you read that excited you so much about the historical figure that you wanted to continue studying history? You would read any text you could get ahold of that mentioned their name, including encyclopedia entries. You have fond memories of that book and wish to reread it as an adult to see if it is still a great book with all its charms. I have noted numerous times that the book series that enticed me to study history was The Royal Diaries Series. The book that started my fascination with the Tudors was “The Royal Diaries- Elizabeth I: Red Rose of the House of Tudor” by Kathryn Lasky.
A young Spanish princess sits with her close friend, sisters, and brother as their beloved tutor, Dona Beatriz Galindo, tells them a story. As the children of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabel of Castile, they must marry and create alliances to strengthen their kingdoms, while Beatriz must ensure they are ready for the challenge. Childhood ends rather quickly with a holy war against the Moors, the expulsion of the Jews from the kingdom, and death around every corner. In her novel, “Falling Pomegranate Seeds: The Duty of Daughters,” Wendy Dunn transports readers into a world of hope and sorrow, life and death.
The year is 1536. A young woman climbs the scaffold for her execution while her three-year-old daughter is miles away, not knowing what will happen to her mother. Never speaking about her mother in public for decades, it would seem that the bond between mother and daughter broke that fateful day. Still, Elizabeth I kept the memory of her influential mother, Anne Boleyn, close to her heart. How did Anne prepare her beloved daughter for the complex nature of the Tudor court, and how did Elizabeth keep the memory of her mother alive? This bond is explored in depth in Tracy Borman’s latest book, “Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History.”
The wives of King Henry VIII have been discussed for centuries in length through novels and nonfiction books. Katherine of Aragon, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr are all very popular queens, but there is one that you have all been waiting for, the most famous Tudor queen, Anne Boleyn. Her story has been told so many different ways by historians and historical fiction authors for centuries, and now it is time for another historian to write their spin on her story. In his latest book, “Anne Boleyn, An Illustrated Life of Henry VIII’s Queen,” Roland Hui paints a picture of the tumultuous life, love life, and death of Anne Boleyn.
Adventures of a Tudor Nerd 