Renaissance men fashion
Men's fashion included most of the same aspects among every social classes however materials and styles depended on the class. During the Renaissance, it was mandatory for all men to wear a hat or some sort of head covering. The style and type of hat, elaborate or plain, was different per social class.
Royalty
During the Renaissance, kings, and queens ruled the land. Royalty made up the highest social class. Kings and people of royalty wore elaborate hats with many expensive decorations. Hats or crowns were decorated with jewels and feathers to show superiority among the people. Men of royalty wore clothing made out of expensive materials. Their clothes were made out of leather, silk, satin, velvet, and taffeta. Shirts had wide and billowy sleeves and were made out of satin, cotton, and velvet. When King Henry VIII ruled England, he became a huge influence on men's fashion during the Renaissance. He would accent his large proportions by stuffing his doublets at the shoulders. A doublet is similar to a vest with cap sleeves or wings. The richer a man was, the fancier his doublet would be. King Henry VIII also would slash and puff the sleeves of his shirt through a shirt on top, which became a tend during the time.
Nobles
The nobles were the highest social class during the Renaissance after the Kings and royalty. This class included people who had power during the Renaissance. Since they were so high up of the social pyramid, men in the noble class had a similar fashion to those of royalty. They also wore elaborately decorated hats. Men in nobility would wear tall hats compared to the flat caps of peasants. Noblemen were rich, so they also wore expensive materials such as silk, satin, and velvet. They had doublets with rich brocade patterns, quilted, or with embellishments. Noblemen wore hose, which is similar to stockings and was worn on the legs. They made these out of wool, but the very rich would have a silken hose.
The middle class including all the skilled workers of the Renaissance. The were not as rich as the noblemen, but they were not poor like the peasants. Working men dressed for utility and would wear clothing that was practical and comfortable. Poorer men wore flat caps and middle class men wore a feather on their hats. Their shirts were made out of flannel or other cheap fabrics that were practical for working. Working class men would sometimes omit a jerkin or doublet and simply wear a shirt because it is more practical with their labor. This class used wool and linen fabrics because they were practical for them.
Middle Class
The lowest class in the Renaissance were the peasants. Peasant were the poorest class so they couldn't afford elaborate articles of clothing or expensive fabrics. They wore uncomplicated flat caps that were made of wool, felt, or leather. Their shirts were made out of flannel and other cheap materials. Peasant men wore loose-fitting pants, or trews, which were tied around the waist and laced at the lower leg. They would wear a sleeveless laced-up or buttoned jerkin over a shirt or tunic. All but the poorest would have hosen and shoes. Shoes were rather basic and were only available in a limited amount of colors among all social classes.
Peasants
