Tudor Women's Clothes Quiz - The Tudor Society

This fun quiz should be nice and easy if you watched my Claire Chats video on Tudor Costume (see Tudor costume video – What women wore at Henry VIII’s court

Tudor women's clothes

Q1) What was the minimum number of layers worn by a Tudor noblewoman?

Six

Four

Three

Five

Correct! The layers were smock, petticoat, kirtle and gown.

Wrong! It was four - smock, petticoat, kirtle and gown.

Q2) What was the traditional colour for a Tudor woman's petticoat?

Saffron

Black

White

Red

Correct! Red was thought of as a health-giving colour.

Wrong! It was red. It was thought of as a health-giving colour.

Q3) What was buckram?

Linen that was stiffened with glue or paste

A fine fabric used to cover the chest and shoulders

A type of velvet

Fake ermine made with rabbit fur

Correct! It was used for support in garments like kirtles and it could also contain boning.

Wrong! It was linen that was stiffened with glue or paste. It was used for support in garments like kirtles and it could also contain boning.

Q4) What was a farthingale?

A chemise worn at night

A cape

A type of ruff

A hooped petticoat

Correct! It originated in Spain.

Wrong! It was a hooped petticoat that originated in Spain.

Q5) What animal was ermine from?

Genet

Stoat

Lynx

Mink

Correct!

Wrong! It was from the stoat.

Q6) What was the main difference between the English frock and the French gown?

The French gown had a tightly fitted bodice and the English frock was loose-fitting.

The English frock had a tightly fitted bodice and the French gown was loose-fitting.

The English frock had a natural waistline rather than a "v".

The English frock had a stomacher.

Correct! The English frock was also known as the loose gown.

Wrong! The English frock or loose gown could be worn hanging loose, belted or semi-fitted, whereas the French gown had a tightly fitted bodice.

Q7) What was a partlet?

A false sleeve

A type of bonnet

A triangular piece of fabric which showed beneath the opening of the overskirt

A collar or piece of fabric used to cover the neck and chest

Correct!

Wrong! It was a type of collar or a piece of fabric used to cover the chest and neck above a gown, and sometimes the shoulders too.

Q8) A coif was ....

A close-fitting linen cap

A bum-roll used to give shape to gowns

A tight fitting jacket worn over a gown

A turned-back sleeve

Correct!

Wrong! It was a close fitting linen cap worn by Tudor noblewomen under their hoods. It was also worn by itself by men and women further down the social scale.

Q9) Shoes worn by courtiers in Henry VIII's reign were..

Round-toed

Pointed at the toes

Square toed

Like ankle boots

Correct! In the 1590s rounder toed shoes came into fashion. Ankle boots were worn by country people.

Wrong! They were square-toed and flat. In the 1590s rounder toed shoes came into fashion. Ankle boots were worn by country people.

Q10) What was an ooch or ouch?

A bracelet

A brooch or clasp

A lace used for lacing up kirtles

A bead

Correct!

Wrong! It was a brooch or clasp.

Q11) The French Hood was brought to the English court by Anne Boleyn?

True

False

Correct! Mary Tudor, Queen of France, is pictured wearing a French hood in the painting of her and Charles Brandon in circa 1516 and Catherine of Aragon wore a French hood early in Henry's reign too.

Wrong! Anne did not bring the French hood to the English court. Mary Tudor, Queen of France, is pictured wearing a French hood in the painting of her and Charles Brandon in circa 1516 and Catherine of Aragon wore a French hood early in Henry's reign too.