Tell me what you wear and I'll tell you who you are.

Believe or not Queen Elizabeth I passed several laws regarding clothes.

She stated what people could wear ,according to their social status and ranks, what colour to wear and when .So you knew "Who was who" just by looking at the clothes. Clothes became a very important symbol during her reign.And we can see that in The Rainbow portrait at Hatfield House. Here is an example of the Sumptuary Laws: Purple silk and sable fur: Reserved strictly for the Queen, King, and their family members. Velvet: The colours crimson and scarlet being reserved for only the highest nobility: dukes, marquises, and earls. Tinseled cloth: Cloth that was woven with strands of gold and silver, that is, tinsel, was reserved for the nobility including viscounts and barons. Gold, silver, or pearl embroidery: Reserved for dukes, marquises, earls (including the children of all three), viscounts, barons, and Knights of the Garter. Lynx and civet cat fur: Restricted to the above ranks, and including the wives of men who can dispend 100 by the year. Enameled buttons, chains, etc.: Restricted to the above nobility, and including wives of barons' sons, and wives of knights. Silk, satin, and damask: Reserved for the above, and including knights' daughters.