Every time I picked up "How to Dress Like a Tudor", I was whisked back in time, and learned something about The Tudor Era, and the clothing worn during that time.

Judith Arnopp is a phenomenal writer who makes history jump right off of the page. She is extremely knowledgeable about the subject matter she focuses on, and I can only imagine the amount of research she must have done, and history came to life right before my eyes.

This non-fiction read delves into the Tudor Era, and the fashions and fabrics that were worn during that time period. Focusing on different social classes, what some people were and were not allowed to wear, and how fashion and symbolism could be used to make a specific statement, this book is so intriguing and incredible information. I also found the parts about being a historical reenactor, and the fashion for that really interesting and helpful as well!

If you enjoy anything related to The Tudors, and / or Historical Fashion, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Pen & Sword History for the ARC of this non-fiction book! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

As a history and historical fashion nerd, and a historical costumer, I really enjoyed this book. The author is a historical reenactor and she really knows her stuff! The history or Tudor clothing has always fascinated me and the author did a great job explaining the Tudor era fashions. From royalty to common folk, this author provided a wealth of knowledge. She included may pictures of portraits from the time and explained why certain pieces of clothing were worn. She also included pictures of the clothes that she has made for her reenactments. She even walks you through, step-by-step on how to make several pieces of Tudor replica outfits.

As a historical costumer I plan to return to this book time and time again on various projects. I am excited to read more from this author.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of the E-book in exchange for an honest review.

Although I'm a dedicated Tudorphile I've never yearned to dress like one of them. Those ruffs in late Tudor times look quite uncomfortable for starters. But author Judith Arnopp has dressed like a Tudor for various reasons, and explains how she has done so on a budget.

She traces the transition of fashion from the relatively subtle styles popular at the court of Henry VII, through the carefully constructed royal grandeur of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I to the pinnacle of majesty and splendid iconography of Elizabeth I.

Ordinary people, meanwhile, were subject to laws forbidding them from wearing certain fabrics or colours. Six months wages for a labourer would buy barely a yard of a cloth of gold. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester (1532-88) paid more for one suit than William Shakespeare paid for a house in Stratford-upon-Avon less than a decade later.

Arnopp also addresses the common perception we have that those in Tudor times must have had terrible body odour because they didn't bathe very often. The answer was their linen under clothes. Someone like Henry VIII would have changed his linens three times a day.

A fascinating read for anyone who loves fashion and history.

How to Dress Like a Tudor is an accessible and well written overview of Tudor dress by Judith Arnopp. Released 30th Sept 2023 by Pen & Sword, it's 224 pages and is available in hardcover format.

There are masses of information here about how different socioeconomic classes dressed during the Tudor period (1485-1603). The author has an informal but precise style of writing and the chapters are liberally sprinkled with clear photography and graphics. The book is well annotated throughout and the bibliography will provide many hours of further reading. The chapters are arranged by item of clothing: underpinnings, kirtles, overgowns, accessories, shirts, codpieces, headwear, men's gowns & coats, men's accessories, children's clothing, and a really great chapter on recreating the looks for modern wearers, including pattern drafting, construction, and modern fabric choices to mimic period pieces.

Five stars. This would be a super choice for public or school library acquisition, for home use, theatre/costume groups, and a must-have for SCAdians and re-enactors.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Trace the evolution of Tudor fashion, from Henry VII's understated court garb to the iconic grandeur of Elizabeth I. This invaluable guide explores attire for both royalty and commoners, offering insights into rich and poor, adults and children. With helpful tips and tricks, it empowers readers to dress the part and easily recreate historically inspired Tudor garments.

This book is targeted toward historical reenactors, but it's also interesting for history enthusiasts. It's easy and fun to read, and it contains instructions at the end on how to construct garments.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review

I love history of fashion and this was a good one as it talks about how they dressed but also how the style changed with the different kings and queens.
It changed for the well-to-do as the poor were not affected
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was an excellent book for people who want to visualize Tudor clothing and how it changed over the course of the era and across the social spectrum. Judith Arnopp is writing for those who want a good, hands-on approach to clothing and her experiences as a reenactor and the research necessary for making the clothing for her group bring the clothing to life here!

The book is wonderfully divided into men's, women's, and children's clothing, and Arnopp explores each individual piece and how it developed over the course of the Tudor era. Materials and sumptuary laws, as well as reasons behind many of these developments, are also covered, with photographs of paintings to help illustrate her descriptions of certain items of clothing. Finally, Arnopp covers being a reenactor and her best tips and tricks for choosing costumes, making garments, etc. with good illustrations along the way.

This is going to be a necessary book on your shelf if you are interested in the fashion history of the Tudor era, if you are a historical writer looking for help describing both the clothing and how it would have felt to wear them, or as a reenactor looking for inspiration and assistance!

I received this book from NetGalley and Pen & Sword in exchange for an honest review

My daughter (9) and I are fans of everything Tudor and enjoyed reading this together. The author has meticulously researched every aspect of Tudor clothing and included so much detail and information. I especially found the new information about French hoods fascinating!

Thank you Netgalley, Pen & Sword and Judith Arnopp for this ARC.

What a splendid contribution to Tudor fashion history for re-enactors and enthusiasts! Let’s face it, historical costuming is an irresistible rabbit hole for ‘dedicated followers of fashion’ drawn to a particular period. Author Judith Arnopp is one of that happy league. Tudor is her catnip, and she shares her wealth of accumulated knowledge, as both an author and re-enactor, in "How to Dress Like a Tudor."

This is a must-have book for anyone involved in re-enactment or Tudor costuming, or hoping to get with the program and not sure where to start. It’s also a helpful resource for historical fiction authors and readers who want to learn more about the elaborate symbolism and social significance of clothing during the 16th Century.  Ms. Arnopp draws from the vast research that informs her historical novels to present a solid general overview of how fashion evolved during the period coupled with in-depth context around the role of clothing in shaping public perception of the Tudor monarchs.

Combining truly informative historical background with a how-to guide for people wanting to create costumes is not a recipe for a lightweight foray into the topic. Readers looking only for nothing more than some frothy re-enactment anecdotes and a couple of French hood patterns may find How to Dress Like a Tudor a heavy lift. Given the breadth of content, Ms. Arnopp settled on a sensible top-down structure, starting with a look at the power and psychology of the Tudor kings and Queens, especially the myth-building by Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. She explains the sumptuary laws that imposed restrictions on dress according to social status: only the royal family could wear purple, for example. During Elizabeth’s reign, the rules were expanded to include “ruffs, hose and the length of one’s sword.”

Clothing was fiercely expensive, and the types of fabrics available were limited. I was intrigued to learn more about the Field of the Cloth of Gold, that “pinnacle of Tudor extravagance.” Rich details like this set Ms. Arnopp’s book apart from those that focus more narrowly on costume alone.

The author goes on to discuss the individual clothing items worn by women, starting with the historical backdrop and then focusing on kirtles, gowns and accessories before continuing to shirts, men’s attire, and clothing for children. The final third of the book is the sewing guide component. A founder of the Fyne Companye of Cambria re-enactment group, she offers tips and hacks drawn from the trial and error of sewing her own costumes, and provides abundant black and white illustrations, portraiture images, and photographs of herself in various styles. Covering everything from codpieces to court dress to commoner, clerical, and battle attire, she explains how to choose and craft a costume achievable for various levels of sewing know-how, from novice to expert.

Sometimes the book feels rather dry and dull, and there will be readers who choose to skip over the deep-dive content in favor of the costuming nuts and bolts. But the point is: the meaty material is there in the first place. I have not seen a more thorough, well-grounded practical guide to Tudor costuming for people who do not work in museums or academia. The Regency Chronicle team highly recommends this well-targeted, well-written book. 5 stars, all round.

Thanks to the author, Pen and Sword Books, and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy. Cover image courtesy of Pen and Sword © 2023.  Review by Lily LeGrande © 2023 The Regency Chronicle.

Have you ever watched a historical drama and wondered what it might have been like to wear the outfits for that period? You see so many reenactment groups online and you are envious of their talents for being able to bring clothing from the past, especially clothes from the 16th century, to life in the modern age. What might it have been like to dress like a lord or a lady? What about a commoner or a monk? How did fashion change throughout the Tudor dynasty? Judith Arnopp answers all of these questions and more in her latest book, “How to Dress Like a Tudor.”

I would like to thank Pen and Sword Books and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book. I am not usually one who has an interest in fashion, but historical fashion and its evolution is an area that does pique my interest. When I heard that there was going to be a book about Tudor fashion by Judith Arnopp, I jumped at the opportunity to read it.

Arnopp begins by explaining how the Tudor dynasty marked a big change when it came to fashion and the sumptuary laws that determined what people could and could not wear according to their social status. We see how different the clothing styles were during the reign of Henry VII compared to his over-the-top son Henry VIII and how Edward VI acted like his father in portraitures. Mary I paved the way for what it meant to be a female ruler in England, but it was Elizabeth I who exemplified the importance of iconography and one’s legacy through fashion and portraits.

The bulk of this book focuses on the individual clothing items for each gender, age, and social status in Tudor England. We begin with Tudor women and their garments, the type of materials that would be used to create the garments, and what colors and different flowers symbolized. Arnopp explores menswear, including the infamous codpiece in both court dress and on the battlefield. We see how the typical court dress differs from how children and clergy dress every single day. Finally, Arnopp shares her tips as an experienced reenactor to help novices get into the field of reenactments.

Overall, I found this book rather enjoyable and an easy-to-understand guide to 16th-century English fashion. I would read novels about the Tudor era and I would get confused about the individual garments, so this helped me with the terminology. The part that was a little flat for me was the practical element where Arnopp would describe step by step how to make each garment. I am not versed in sewing terminology so it was a bit hard for me to follow along. However, I think if you are interested in reenactments or just Tudor fashion in general, I would highly suggest you read, “How to Dress Like a Tudor” by Judith Arnopp.

Interesting overview. I liked that it was by a reenactor. I would have liked pictures and more focus on what the common people wore.

An engaging easy-to-read guide to Tudor clothing for today.

I haven't read any of Judith Arnopp's other works, but I sped through this because each part of it was so interesting and lightly told with humour and the confidence that comes from having done extensive research into a subject and being able to piece together facts, social context, and examples like they are a fine garment.

Rich detail is supported by practical knowledge, and primary sources and images, so that How to Dress Like a Tudor offers a fresh perspective on Tudor clothing, while using facts and sources that may be familiar to readers who have read around the subject before.

For anyone interested in getting a feel for Tudor life, then taking that further to walk in Tudor shoes (or dress), I'd recommend reading 'How To Be a Tudor: A Dawn-to-Dusk Guide to Tudor Life' for a great insight into 'a day in the life', also backed up by practical experience, followed by 'How to Dress like a Tudor' which confirms and expands on the aspects of dress that Ruth Goodman writes about. The two resources together are a great way to experience Tudor life with some authority even if you never put on a corset or codpiece.

This was a good book! So much information about the clothing,the styles, the care,who was allowed to wear what.
It was so helpful in understanding how they lived.

Fabrics, styles, and embroidery were part and parcel of the Tudor image. From kirtles and overgowns to doublets, codpieces and ruffs, this book tells all.There are also sections on accessories, dressing children and how to make your own Tudor garments.
It is a comprehensive book filled with relevant stories and humour. A very interesting and informative read.

Wardrobe seems to be overlooked when it comes to the Tudor period, but as the author mentions, other than what's mentioned in diaries or invoices, little is known about the material used or how the outfits were created during the Tudor time. There are obvious class differences and the intriguing part of How to Dress Like a Tudor is the exploration of the purposes of the outfits.

One area of interest from the book is the fact clothes were more than reflective of the status, but served hygienic purposes which were reflected in the series documentary "Tudor Monastery Farm" where Ruth Goode, historian, and her companions demonstrated what it was like to dress, work, and lived during this time period.

The rest of the chapter covers the author's own experience in creating her own Tudor-inspired clothing, along with basic guidelines which would serve those in the interest of theater, Renaissance fairs, historical fiction writing, and set designers' insight in recreating clothing wear for both personal and professional use.

The author helps illustrate how little is known about the material and wear of the outfits and reflects how there is still much to be gained in studying this fascinating time period, especially at a time when television and movies strive for historical authenticity.

For the casual and academically trained historian, the book is a useful resource to keep on the shelf. Along with the numerous primary sources, the recreation of the outfits by the author is a reminder sometimes the best form of research is by active recreation.

Overall, the book was a wonderful read, and help contribute to further interest in bringing to life, the Tudor time period.

Thank you to Netgalley, and Pen and Sword for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my personal opinion.

A nice little guide going through the different layers of a Tudor dress both for men and women. The author - an reenactor herself - gives valueble tips for sewing an outfit.

I feel like this was quite well researched and, as always, I like when photos are included to give us readers a visual to what is described in the text.