Figure 1.-- This is a display at a Historical 17th century home called the Black and White House in Hereford. It shows English Civil War fashions for the whole family. We believe they are reproductions, but are not sure what they were based on. The clothing on display seems to be the costumes worn by a prosperous Hereford family. John Jones was a master butcher and the house may have been where he conducted his business. It is thought that the house was built for them (1621). The family consisted of husband John, wife Mary, children Elinor, Margaret, Tomas, and Alice. Hereford was a royalist city. Jones was a royalist. Many who supoported King Charls were commoners like Jones. The King visited Hereford duing the Civil War (1645). It fell to Parliamentarian forces in December of that year. The Royalists attempted to retake the city, but failed (1646). The Royalists was only 30 men. A reader tells us, "Adult male royalist costume black. This was a colour worn by Royalist males. Sir Henry Lingen of Stoke Edith's portrait shows him wearing a black costume. I think it safe to think that the display shows royalist costumes." While the father dresses in black. The rest of the family wears muted fashions. Wide white collars were popular. Pants after the early-17th century evolved from the short, balooned out Elizabethan to knee breeches cut well below the knee. This becane the basic style for men and boys. There were still no dedicated children's fashions at ther time.

We note some 17th century garments. There were no substantial children's fashions during the century. CVhildren wore scaled down versions of therir parent's garments. There were significant social class differences at the time. Aristocratic fashions could be very elaborate and use luxurious materials. The famous Blue Boy painting is based on such styles. The caviliers fighting for the King wore fancy clothing influenced by the French court. These fashions were captured by Anthony Van Dyck and other artists. Gainsboro's Blue Boy was painted in the 18th century but meant to replicate the Cavalier fashions of the 17th century. The Parlimentarians who fought the English Civil War (1642-51) believed in very plain, restrained fashions in muted colors. These were the Puritans who launched the Civil War. The Hereford Museum provided this display of English Puritan Civil War fashions for the whole family (figure 1). The father dresses in black. The rest of the family wears muted fashions. The boy's outfit is stylistically the same as his father's suit, only the color is different. We are not sure this color difference between father and son shown here was a real 17th century convention. Wide white collars were popular. Pants after the early-17th century evolved from the short, balooned out Elizabethan knee breeches cut well above the knee. In the 17th century the length fell to belowe the knee as shown here here, creating pants or trousers--the basic modern style for men and boys. The women here had open necklines. These styles became common as the victory of the Parlimentarians in the English Civil War. This led to the Commonwealth (1649-60). Then came the Restoration in which Cavalier fashioins cane back intio style (1660). .

Created: 7:26 AM 9/25/2021
Last updated: 7:27 AM 9/25/2021