Peasants had no money to spend on the elaborate outfits that noble people wore. The fabrics they used were rough and natural. They sometimes used material from sacks, which carried their food, to sew into shirts and skirts. Men typically wore long-sleeved loose shirts, over which they wore a simple vest and a belt made of rope. They wore tattered breeches, which often covered their calves. If they were lucky enough to have shoes, they wore very simple leather shoes.
Peasant women wore similar fabrics to that of peasant men. Again, they wore long-sleeved, loose-fitting shirts with vests; however, the female vest was tighter than the male's, and was often synched at the waist like a corset. Even the poorest peasant woman wore two skirts: the underskirt and the top skirt. Depending on her job, the woman also wore an apron over the top of her skirt. Women wore simple leather shoes, if they could afford to do so.
Noble men could afford much nicer fabrics like silk, velvet, and muslin. A man wore a loose long-sleeved shirt beneath a jerkin, which was a short leather or velvet jacket. Jerkins were normally sleeveless. Some wore a simar, which was basically an elaborate robe, over the top of their shirt and vest. On the bottom, they wore fitted breeches with a cod piece covering the crotch. The cod piece was typically made from the same fabric as the jerkin. Men also wore elaborate stockings to show off their calves, and short-heeled shoes to appear taller.
Noble women wore several layers to show off their wealth. Underneath, women wore a shift dress, which resembled a sleeping gown. Above this, women wore underskirts, perhaps two of them. The corset, made with whalebone, synched the woman's waist and created a flat surface on her torso. On top of this, women wore a cone-shaped hoop skirt called a Spanish farthingale, which created an A-line shape for the top skirt. The petticoat was placed on top of the farthingale, and peeked out from under the top skirt to show lovely embroidery. Women sometimes wore partlets around their necks, which looked like ruffled shirts. Finally, the gown sat on top of these layers. Gowns were brightly-colored and embellished with embroidery and patterns. Women also wore embroidered stockings and flat velvet or leather shoes.
Perhaps the king most noted for his fashion was Henry VIII of England. The basic principles of the royal's costume were similar to the noble's, but the fabrics used were only the finest available. Silk and velvet comprised most of the components for royal costumes. Jerkins were more elaborate, with pearls, rubies, and other precious stones inlayed into them. Often, royalty wore extensive amounts of jewelry on their hands and around their necks. Men also wore hats made of silk and decorated with feathers and stones. Women's gowns were more elaborate and constrictive, with gigantic sleeves hanging almost to the floor. They also wore caps decorated with feathers and jewels. On special occasions, royalty wore crowns to signify their power over the land.