A Group of English Women

Women's Garment Myths

Myth: All women must have ample cleavage overflowing from their very tight bodices.

All the ladies above are both fully covered. They didn't have sunscreen during the actual Renaissance, so they covered up from the sun with fabrics. Or in the winter, they covered up to keep warm.

From left to right: London citizen's wife, rich citizen's wife, daughter of first woman, country woman.

A Group of English Women, by Lucas de Heere, c.1570-75. Scanned from The Visual History of Costume, Aileen Ribeiro & Valerie Cumming, B.T. Batsford Ltd., London, 1989, pg. 87, ISBN 0-7134-5624-8.