How Anne Boleyn Got Dressed in the Morning

Henry VIII wanted to marry Anne Boleyn so badly that he broke up the Catholic monasteries and created the Church of England in order that his previous marriage would be null and void. Then he could publicly marry the woman he had his eye on for years, Anne. Little did she know then how he would repeat this pattern over and over throughout his life. It was only 4 years from her secret marriage to King Henry VIII until he had her imprisoned, tried, and beheaded for failing to provide him with male heirs to the throne. Their daughter Elizabeth ended up later becoming queen and was the longest-ruling of the Tudor monarchs.

Anne came to the court of Henry VIII with a distinct style that was fresh and alluring. She had spent many years in France as a lady-in-waiting to two French queens. She was said to have favored French fashions which in turn made her stand out at English court.

Historical interpreters Hillary Wood and Alice Patterson explain what getting dressed as Anne Boleyn would have been like. For the short time that she was queen she enjoyed no shortage of dresses and accessories to display her status and power. An elaborate set of layers in damask, linen, silk, and velvet awaited her each morning.

In this era, however, there was little in the way of undergarments or shapewear since corsets and stays were not yet in use. A simple shift of linen or cotton under the clothing and a bump pad for the derrière were the only undergarments. The clothes themselves had the structure built into them or were draped in particular ways to give the fashionable silhouette. Over the shift went the kirtle which was stiff-fronted almost like a corset front, lacing across the bust. The kirtle was made from red silk, considered both a show of opulence and a color of good luck and good health.

A series of petticoats gave volume to the skirt, while foresleeves and forepart were worn on top of the kirtle and could be changed to created new outfits. These elements were pinned in place, which also allowed them to be laundered separately if needed. A gown went over the top of the kirtle and forepart, allowing the color underneath to peek through.

The final look was finished with a French hood embellished with pearls as well as pearl jewelry to accentuate the neck. Though few likenesses of her from when she lived still survive today, there are numerous paintings from the late 16th century that depict just this type of outfit being worn by Anne Boleyn before she was executed.

See how this 16th century look was put together in the video below.