The time of the Stuart Dynasty was one of the most dramatic periods of British history. The nation was divided along lines of political affiliation, religion, and class. Add to this deepening regional animosity and the increasing impact of foreign cultures such as France and The Netherlands, and one can imagine how the clothing styles by which people identified themselves came from a wider range of influences than ever before. The gentry of prominent cities had the money to express their tastes however they pleased, and the 17th Century Stuart style costumes Bath inhabitants would have seen varied from the restrained to the ridiculous.
It was an era during which one’s manner of dress could be the most significant thing about your identity; when asked about the Roundheads and the Cavaliers, many people will bring up the subject of the contrasting outfits of these two groups even before addressing their opposed political views. The garb of soldiers is, of course, unique in its own ways, with each fighting force and group of hired international soldiers having certain distinctive features to single them out. The city of Bath was conquered and re-conquered during the Civil War, so 17th Century Stuart style costumes could have changed from one week to the next as residents tried to fit in with the changing times. Fortunately, the architecture of the city suffered little damage and Bath is today valued as a picture-perfect English city.
Bath is so highly regarded for its historical ambience that scarcely a year goes by without one television or film production company or another setting up along The Circus or The Royal Crescent to shoot a period drama or historical documentary. Re-enactment societies like to get in on the act too, and on a summer afternoon you can sometimes see 17th Century Stuart style costumes mingling with the jeans and t-shirts of residents and tourists.
Whether for public performance, screen, or stage (Bath is home to five respected theatres), all actors and directors need a reliable source of accurate and eye-catching historical outfits. Whether your project requires medieval togs, Tudor and Elizabethan outfits, 17th Century Stuart style costumes, or he suits and gowns which would have been worn in Regency and Victorian times, come to look at the fine range of costumes and accessories available for sale or hire from Farthingale Costumes. We also supply museums and private collectors, and are known for the striking authenticity of our work due to a deep knowledge of fabrics and traditional production methods.
The 17th Century Stuart style costumes which would have been popular in Bath at the time can be recreated for your club, event or party, and will draw admiration from history buffs as well as the public at large. We are very confident that our items are as accurate as any that are available, and please remember that only a small selection of our work is shown on this website, so if you are looking for something specific please get in touch with our team.
