Medieval and Tudor knights always liked to look their best, whether fighting on the battlefield or showing off their prowess in tournaments, and they kept up with the latest fashions in arms and armour. The session looked at the practicalities of mail shirts, how hemlines went down and up from the 11th to the 15th centuries, ‘designer label’ Tudor armour, and what knights wore underneath. How did a knight put his armour on, and did he wear socks?

In 1558 a young woman was crowned Queen and, despite the efforts of her courtiers, ruled England alone and unmarried for 45 years. Her wardrobe played a key role in emphasising her status as a female monarch, and helped her control her male courtiers. Using contemporary portraits, the session traced the development of Elizabeth’s image and the changing styles and symbolism of her costumes. How did she show her majesty and sovereignty, and why was she later represented as an empress and a goddess? Gillian trained as a medievalist and has taught history for over 25 years. She has worked with the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds, the Mansion House in York, the Council for British Archaeology and many Yorkshire museums and archives, and teaches History and Heritage courses at the University of York’s Centre for Lifelong Learning.