What are Sumptuary Laws?

Luxury no longer reserved for the aristocracy

From the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans up to the modern era, there have been laws that regulate clothing and attire. The Romans limited ‘luxury items’ like Tyrian purple dye and only men who had reached their political majority might wear the toga. In feudal Japan, wealthy merchants were restricting from wearing certain items of clothing reserved for the aristocratic Samurai. During the Renaissance period, silk, satin, velvet and brocade were mostly restricted to the upper classes and during the Elizabethan era in Britain, nobles were granted specific clothing rights that detailed appropriate colors, fabrics and even designs.

Known as sumptuary laws, these regulations were often invoked to preserve strict social and political class divisions and quite often reserved the high quality and most luxurious items of clothing for the economic elite.

Thankfully such laws no longer exist and in the modern era, men and women can pretty much wear whatever they choose. Knot Standard makes attainable the most luxurious and high quality custom men’s clothing. Order a Loro Piana Dark Grey Nailshead suit, one of our most sumptuous and luxurious options.

Made from 100% wool from the famous Italian Loro Piana mill, the jacket comes fully canvassed and features a deep red twill lining, handmade surgeon’s cuffs and our signature Milanese lapel buttonhole. Perfect for a board meeting or corporate takeover, the Loro Piana Dark Grey Nailshead is an investment suit for those who enjoy the finer things in life and know how to wear them.