How did expensive royal fashions show wealth and social status in earlier centuries?

In earlier centuries, the fashion industry served as a primary visual indicator of wealth and social hierarchy, often regulated by sumptuary laws that restricted specific materials and styles to the aristocracy.12

Wealth and status were demonstrated through several key elements:

• Luxurious Fabrics: The use of rare or expensive textiles—such as silk, velvet, satin, brocade, and cloth of gold—was frequently reserved for the elite. In many regions, commoners were legally restricted to wearing simple, inexpensive materials like russet or undyed wool.13
• Ornate Embellishment: High-status garments were heavily decorated with embroidery, gold and silver metallic threads, pearls, and precious stones. During the 17th century, monarchs like Louis XIV famously displayed their status by wearing heavy, jewel-encrusted attire for official ceremonies.345
• Exclusive Furs: Certain furs, such as sable and ermine, were often legally restricted to the nobility, reinforcing class distinctions.1
• Elaborate Silhouettes: Complex, restrictive, and costly structures—such as the farthingale, corset, and panier—required significant amounts of fabric and specialized tailoring, signaling that the wearer did not perform manual labor.6