Why were ruff collars mainly worn by wealthy people?
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Dress
Henry VIII, painting by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1540.
Ruff collars were primarily worn by the wealthy because they served as a distinct symbol of aristocracy and social status.
The complexity of maintaining a ruff contributed to its exclusivity. These collars required significant upkeep, often involving the use of starch to maintain their shape and, in many cases, a supporting wire frame to hold them in place. Because these garments were elaborate, difficult to clean, and impractical for manual labor, they functioned as a clear visual indicator that the wearer did not perform physical work, thereby reinforcing the class divisions of the 16th and 17th centuries.12