The ruff, a small pleated ruffle placed on the shirt collars of both men and women, was introduced during the early part of the sixteenth century. As the century progressed, these pleated collars grew in size. They became huge and wheel-like and needed the help of supports called "rebatos." Only the wealthy were generally able to afford to wear ruffs because of the expensive materials, including lace, needed to make and maintain them.
The doublet was an important part of the sixteenth century wardrobe; it was commonly worn as a close-fitting jacket of sorts. Women used the doublet to help conceal the bust, while the man's doublet also covered the upper body and featured padding and a button-down or laced front. The sleeves were puffed, slashed, narrow or full, but the doublet sleeves and styles often varied by country. Many sixteenth century women wore the Spanish doublet, which included a conical hoop skirt, along with stiff, waist-cinching undergarments.
The farthingale took many different forms during sixteenth century Europe. The Spanish farthingale was basically a rigid, bell-shaped petticoat. Tailors used armatures constructed from wire, bone, rope or flexible branches to form the structure of this costume piece. The farthingale was often worn by upper class ladies as wearing one was critical to the highly sought-after fancy Elizabethan silhouette.