Question

The end of sumptuary laws did not mean that everyone in European societies could dress up in the same way. What is the implication of this statement?

Answer 1

• The French Revolution brought an end to Sumputary laws but this did not mean that everyone in European societies could now dress in the same way.
  
• Differences between social strata remained even after that. Clearly, the poor could not dress like the rich, nor eat the same food.
  
• But laws no longer barred peoples right to dress in the way they wished. Differences in eating, rather than Sumptuary laws, now defined what the rich and the poor could wear.
  
• And different classes developed their own culture of dress. The notion of what was beautiful or ugly, proper or improper, decent or vulgar, differed.