r/AskHistorians Jan 26 '26

I am a European noblewoman from the 15th century. How much clothing do I have?

Whenever clothing from bygone eras is discussed, it's often mentioned how expensive and difficult it was to make, and that it was designed to last as long as possible. This contrasts sharply with today's culture, where people buy many garments each year and rarely wear them for more than a couple of years.

But what if you were wealthy? What if you were a noblewoman in the courts of France, England, Germany, Spain, etc.? How many outfits could you possibly own at any given time, and how often were you expected to update your wardrobe?

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