Jean Jacques Boissard Habitus Variarum Orbis Gentium (Costume of the Various Peoples of the World) 1581 France, 1528-98, Ink on paper with gouache, watercolor, and gold Gift of the 1994 Collectors Committee
Renaissance women spent hours plucking hair from their foreheads and the sides of their faces to achieve a high forehead, which was considered fashionable. They pulled their remaining hair into a tight bun or braid and covered their heads with some kind of headdress. A woman's hair and headdress were one of the most varied aspects of female fashion. Women's clothing changed in necklines, waists and sleeves but overall remained the same during most of the Renaissance. A camicia or underdress was worn next to the body, with a dress fitting smoothly over the shoulders and belted. The underdress was often visible as part of the outer dress. In this portrait, it can be seen at the neckline and sleeves.
