What is... a Ruff?

A ruff is a strip of fabric that has been sewn to stand up on its side and act as a collar. At its least it was simply a ruffled strip that framed the neck line. At its worst, the wearer could not turn his/her head - The use of 2-foot spoons for eating soup became a matter of necessity.

Between about 1550 and 1600, well-dressed English gentlemen and ladies wore a Ruff.
This extended onto the continent somewhat - Henry III of France (1551-1589; King of France from 1574) brought ruffs into fashion by using one to hide a disfiguring scar on his neck.

• Elizabethan Accessories
  Scrolling down on this page will give a description of Ruffs.
  
  Margo Anderson
• Men's Fashion during the Elizabethan Period
  Describes Elizabethan Ruffs precisely
  
  Matt Doering
• Dressing for Shakespeare: the Elizabethan Male
  A general description of the ruff.
  
  C. David Claudon
• Why Do I Need All This Stuff? - Ruffs
  An explanation of the effect of ruffs.
  
  Golden Age Designs
• History Of Costume - Elizabethan
  This is the resource site for a course run by State University College, NY. It contains many pictures of Elizabethan clothing.
  
  Dr. Katherine G. Angell
• A Brief History of Ruffs
  A concise description of the ruff ansd its use in Elizabethan wear.
  
  Lynn McMasters
• Elizabethan Ruffs
  Describes how ruffs change over the Elizabethan period.
  
  Drea Leed

• "Tudor Tailor: reconstructing sixteenth-century dress "
  Ninya Mikhaila
  View more details

  There is also a Yahoo Group for discussion of this book

• "Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'D"
  Arnold, Janet
  View more details
• "Period Costume for Stage & Screen - Patterns for Women's Dress 1500-1800"
  Hunnisett, Jean
  View more details
• "Dress at the Court of King Henry VIII: The Wardrobe Book of the Wardrobe of the Robes Prepared By James Wrosley In December 1516"
  Maria Hayward
  View more details

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• Ruff Calculator
  A calculator that will help you determine how much fabric is needed for a ruff (the short answer - lots).
  This automates Margo Anderson's ruff calculator
  
  Drea Leed
• The Building of an Elizabethan Wired Ruff
  Lists the materials recommended for this item and shows a half-scale, model in order to demonstrate both accurate silhouette and the contemporary products used for building these garments. The garment has been built using the information provided by Jean Hunnisett in her book "Period Costume for Stage & Screen -Patterns for Women's Dress 1500-1800".
  
• Constructing Elizabethan Ruffs
  Drea Leed
• Elizabethan and Medieval Accessories
  Patterns of Time's pattern - Cat. #: PP 90, Cat. #: NS INST
  
• How to Starch a Ruff
  Melanie Schuessler
• Constructing an Elizabethan Ruff
  Step by step instructions on ruff-making.
  
  Mistress Eleanor of Ashley
• The Ruff
  Dawn's Costume Guide pattern
  
  Dawn Duperault
• Simplicity Pattern 8881
  The Shakespeare in Love gown
  
• Elizabethian clothing ruffs. Making them. Storing them. Different materials to use. How to starch them.
  Stefan's Florilegium's entry
  
• Period Style: Ruffs
  "The Renaissance Tailor" site (Recreating 16th and 17th Century Clothing)
  
  Laurellen de Brandevin
• Ruff Making 101
  The first of 2 pages with detailled, step-by-step instructions, accompanied by photos.
  
  Anya
• Elizabethan Accessories
  This pattern is part of Margo's acclaimed Elizabethan pattern series.
  
  Margo Anderson