Overall NATTY: THE RUFF

Millstone Ruff 1615-1635

One of the main features from the sixteenth century fashion comes to this fall september. The ruff is the outstanding neck, made by nicely and rounded folds of linen, silk or cotton (normally silk). It was a way to give importance to the faces and at the same time conceal as much skin as possible. It evolved from a small into huge collar, so huge that by the end of the century looked like a tray with a head served on it.

Spain was the originator country, but in those days fashion was one of the most relevant things so the monarchies through all Europe took it and made it theirs, in some sort of different ways.

Isabel Clara Eugenia, Albrecht, S XVI

Juana de Austria, late S.XVI

Last December Russian Vogue, took this sixteenth century style and presented in a modern photo-shoot where Ashley Smith was the model and Sharif Hamza the photographer.

For this Autumn/winter not just one, many designers have joined this trend, here some of them I have selected. For very obvious and white ruffs, just as before, to smaller ones and different colours. Any garment or outfit can have it, from a shirt to a dress, a casual look or a very severe or smart one...

everything match the ruff.