Whilst researching the Elizabethan era, i came across a post about the "ideal" Elizabethan women.
The Elizabethan view of pure beauty was a woman with light hair and a snow white complexion complimented with red cheeks and red lips. A pale complexion could only be achieved by a woman of the upper class. Lower class women were expected to work outside and therefore acquired a suntan! The pale complexion was therefore a sign of wealth and nobility - an immediate identification for a person from the upper classes! This alabaster complexion was therefore also required by Elizabethan men! Queen Elizabeth not only achieved this picture of ideal beauty by using white make-up but was also a natural red head.
The photos of Elizabethan are interrupt photos of Queen Elizabeth as she was extremely vain!
The Rainbow Portrait, c. 1600–02, attrib. Isaac Oliver
The photo above is a perfect match to the description of the ideal women.
Although the fashion for women changed to more seductive look it was important for Queen Elizabeth to maintain her image and the beauty of the virgin Queen.
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