Fashion in Time and Space Trivia Quiz

Answer: Elizabethan England

In Elizabethan times the clothes you wore were governed by strict rules, the Sumptuary Laws, eg only royalty could have ermine trimmings on their robes while nobles were allowed to have fox or otter fur. The colours and types of fabrics that could be worn by each level of society were mandated and made one's status easily identifiable.

The Elizabethan lady wore many layers starting with the chemise and including hose, a bodice, farthingale, stomacher and petticoat while over that came the gown, separate sleeves, ruff, cloak shoes and hat. Men also wore layers of clothes, a shirt, stockings or hose, a codpiece, and a corset over which came the doublet, separate sleeves, breeches, a belt, and a ruff, cloak shoes and hat.

While men's hair was usually worn short and unadorned women had elaborate swept up styles with women seeking to make their hair like that of the queen, even to the extent of dyeing it with a combination of saffron, cumin seed, celandine and oil.

Answer: Ancient Rome

Roman clothes were similar to those of Greece but there were differences. Wool was the main material although linen was worn. Underclothes, usually of fine linen, consisted of a loincloth, while women could also wear a simple brassiere which was just a tightly wrapped band of material which was worn either under or over the clothing. Men's tunics were sleeveless and about knee length while women's were longer and could have sleeves. Bands of colour, purple for highly ranked citizens, denoted status.

In cold weather more than one tunic was worn. Over this men wore the toga, a long piece of wool thrown over one shoulder. It could only be worn by Roman citizens. Originally white was the colour worn by both sexes but women soon began to wear coloured clothes.

Their outer garment was called a stola and was often shorter to display the tunic beneath. The wealthiest women sometimes had gowns made of richly coloured silks.

Answer: Punk

While punk styles varied in different countries, the basic idea was to be anti-establishment and to shock. The clothing could look ragged and unkempt but a lot of time went into styling the elaborate shaved and spiked hair, decorating jackets with multiple studs or other decorations and to creating a whole image. Doc Martens or work boots were standard shoes for both sexes while girls wore fishnets stockings, often ripped. Dog collars, sometimes of spiked metal, were a common accessory as were wrists bands of similar styles.

Answer: Mongolia

Mongolian headware was so varied because there were styles for all ages and all occasions eg the cone shaped hat which had 32 stitches symbolising unification of the 32 tribes of Mongolia. Red plush hats with upturned brims and topknots were worn by the middle aged of both sexes. Womens hats for special occasions were elaborately decorated possibly with silver bells, pearls and precious stones.

The Del was the one-pieced tunic which was made in a distinctive style for each ethnic grouping. Everyday Del were in plain colours but the holiday Del could be blue, claret or green and was worn with a long silk sash. Boots with upturned toes are worn and thick felt socks were added in winter.

Answer: Dior

After World War II Christian Dior thought that women were tired of uniforms and plain clothes. His new designs were aimed at making women feel more feminine. His clothes had fitted waists, with beautifully pleated or tucked bodices. The skirts were full or barrel-shaped coming in at the knees.

After the square-shaped shoulders of the war era, Dior brought back the sloping shoulders of pre-war fashions or even went back to the dropped shoulders of early Victorian times. To achieve the hourglass figure needed to wear this style Dior created the "waspie" a kind of small corset that could, it is said, take five inches from the waist.

In addition his clothes had padded hips to help the full skirts stand out. Skirts were long, about twelve inches from the ground, as there was no longer any need to conserve material for the war effort.

This rather impractical style did not last past Dior's death in 1957.

Answer: A headdress

The hennin is the cone or steeple shape headdress worn by medieval women of fashion. They were very popular in France as well as northern Europe, especially Hungary and Poland. They were also seen in England, especially as court dress. The hennin was worn sloping backwards at an angle, and often had some form of drapery coming from it. The hair was usually hidden inside it.
This form of head wear has been adopted by film makers and is now the stereotype for medieval wear portrayed in films.

Answer: Coco Chanel

Coco Chanel revolutionised the way that women dressed. She wanted women to have the freedom to move, and her clothes were made of easy fabrics such as jersey that moved and stretched and draped well. She introduced sporty-looking clothes, and the 'Little Black Dress', a staple in every woman's wardrobe, was her invention.
Chanel also designed handbags and hats and accessories, and in 1921 launched her first and greatest perfume, 'Chanel No 5'. This is the scent that Marilyn Monroe always wore. When asked what she wore in bed, Marilyn reputedly answered 'Chanel No 5'.

Answer: Beau Brummell

Brummell was the great leader of fashion during the Regency period. He was referred to as a 'Dandy', and was fastidious about every aspect of his appearance. He was known for cleaning his teeth and bathing - not always a priority at this time - and was said to get the high shine on his boots by cleaning them with Champagne.
Inevitably, a life of extravagant spending on clothes and nightly gambling sessions left him penniless and eventually he fled to France to escape his creditors.

Answer: Crinoline

In the mid 1800s skirts grew wider and wider. At first they were supported with a bustle, then stiffened petticoats, but eventually they grew too wide for this support and the cage crinoline was invented. The great advantage of this over several stiffened petticoats was lightness and freedom of movement. Only one or two petticoats were required to stop the outline of the cage showing, and with everything held by the cage there were no entangling garments round the legs.

At the height of the fashion skirts had grown to widths of around six feet, which led to regular problems arising with getting through doors and in and out of the horse drawn coaches of the day.

Answer: Flappers

Flappers cut their hair short, drove cars, smoked, drank and listened to jazz. They had jobs, and openly challenged the Victorian and Edwardian female roles.
They had a style all of their own. Their skirts were shorter than had been seen before, waist lines were dropped, they threw off the corsets beloved of their mothers and grandmothers. They became associated with dances such as the Charleston and the Black Bottom. Writers such as F. Scott Fitzgerald popularised both their life style and fashion.