Clothing – A Mark of Noble Identity in Early Modern Transylvania (II)

Abstract

For a long time, it was the garment that gave the person individuality. Once the costume was lost, the identity was lost. Clothing is, therefore, one of the essential markers of social convention, with each part of the population being assigned a specific role and place, easily recognizable by shape and color. The symbolism of clothing articles, with a very different cut and color range, could immediately be interpreted by the contemporaries. Based on the last wills of the Transylvanian nobility, this study proposes to examine the role of clothes as status indicator, or the social role of noble men’s clothing in the late sixteenth century and the first half of the seventeenth century in Transylvania. From a structural point of view, the study continues the topics addressed in the first part, discussing issues concerning the value of white clothing and women’s attire in terms of rank and status in society.