Renaissance fashion, accessories, Men in Black, dyeing hair

Since we're on fashion, check out the latest article on Venetian men and women- this is only part of it. Venetian merchant (1590) Venetian merchant (1590) Men In Black Much like today, accessories were extremely popular. Venetian women added to their expensive attire by donning jewelled belts and brooches, embroidered panties, embossed purses and intricate fans. Venetian women’s styles changed rapidly (approximately every twenty years) becoming increasingly ornate as they moved into the mid to late sixteenth century. Conversely, their male counterparts remained virtually unchanged. One defining feature of Venetian noblemen and Patricians was that they favoured black, crimson and purple as the colours of status and wealth. Black, however, was the favourite and the principal way that Venetians of social standing indicated their aristocratic roots. Black was also symbolic to the Venetians because they felt it represented political stability. As one Venetian writer indicated, ‘it [black] shows likewise firmness, because this colour cannot change into another’. I also remember reading about one of the Medici women lounging on the top of her palazzo during the summer, applying lemon juice to her hair to keep it fashionably blond. What about us redheads?