During the Elizabethan era, the trend of wearing oversized collars became synonymous with aristocracy and opulence. These massive collars, known as ruffs, were not merely fashion statements but symbols of wealth and privilege. Despite the discomfort they brought, with their impracticality hindering even basic tasks like eating or manual labor, ruffs were worn proudly by nobles as a display of their elevated social status. The Ugly History of Cosmetic Surgery Empress Nur Jahan and Queen Elizabeth I: Female Icons Ahead of Their Time Originating as extensions of men's shirts, ruffs evolved into separate accessories, often crafted with intricate lace and adorned with gold. The introduction of starch by Mistress dingham Vander der Plasse in the mid-1560s revolutionized the construction of ruffs, allowing them to stand tall and take on elaborate shapes. As ruffs grew larger and more complex, reaching widths that extended beyond the shoulders, they became emblematic of European upper-class fashion. Read moreSection: NewsVideosHistoryAncient TraditionsRead Later