Queen Elizabeth I and her frocks

[Mosaic]

This might make a change from the Midwest homework requests...
I remember being told as child that Queen Elizabeth I had a thousand dresses. Naturally, this fascinated me, especially when I was told that many - or indeed most - were encrusted with jewels.
So my question is - do any remain today? A hat, a glove, a pair of bodies or a simple bum-roll from this amazing collection? What became of it all?
Ab-ers are so clever at finding this sort of stuff out...

[atalanta]

If anyone has got any of her costume stuff, it might be the V&A museum. They have textiles older than Eliz I. ( cf the Syon Cope, etc ) Or just possibly Hampton Court . Gloves are the most likely to have survived, especially as they were often given as gifts. Some courtier may have treasured just such a gift and passed it down to his/her family.
Mind you, she didn't exactly have dresses/frocks. Costumes were made up of separate items, and bodices would be separate from skirts and underskirts, and maybe sleeves would be separate again. Then add a ruff, hair decorations, trains, cloaks and more - and it's quite hard to say what would count as a "dress" in those days.

[DTCwordfan]

Prince Charles likes to dress up in them on Saturday nights.

Tuesdays are Queen Victoria nights, Thursdays Queen Anne and Monday nights it's Mathilda's wear.

[paddywak]

I remember on an The Antiques Road Show in the collection of Chatsworth House they had a pair of jeweled gloves reputed to belong to Elizabeth. They were the annals of the house as being purchased on a certain date in the 1600's but as the guy said who they'd actually belonged to was anybodies guess

[Mosaic]

You'd think if the V&A had anything they'd have lots of hoo-haa about it - it would be so popular!
I reckon the '1000 dresses' must be a bit of a myth - surely her dressmakers would be cannibalising and remodelling stuff as the seasons went by. And I bet James I and his family never had to buy much in the way of fabric or jewels, as they'd just snip up the old auntie's outfits.
Apparently there's a book describing bits of gems that fell off her dresses.....it's my birthday soon :)

[jno]

"A few articles of clothing that belonged to Elizabeth I were on display at Greenwich in 2003, part of an exhibition commemorating the 400th anniversary of her death. I believe most of the items were on loan from private collector-owners and therefore not usually available for public viewing. There are a few pieces on public display at Hatfield House. Some of her jewelry survives, and a few pieces are in public museums, especially the Victoria and Albert Museum (though the Jewelry Room there has been undergoing remodeling recently). At least one set of Henry VIII's armor is on display at the Tower of London. Mary, Queen of Scots, rosary is on display at Arundel Castle. These are the only items of which I am aware, but I suspect some of our UK residents will know much more about this topic than I do. "

From here: http://queryblog.tudo...-surviving-tudor.html

[Mosaic]

thanks jno

[heathfield]

Born, 7 September 1533 (Julian calendar)
Died, 24 March 1603 (Julian calendar)

Thats 25,400 days from birth to death. If she wore a different dress for 25.4 days at a time, (that's over three weeks), then that would be 1000 dresses during her lifetime. Not too many, considering who she was.

[jno]

true, heathfield, she probably took it off every bath night...

[BruceBP]

I am told she was so fastidious she took a bath once a year, whether she needed one or not.