The women in this image are making quite the fashion statement! The verdugado, or the hoopskirt worn by these women, were all the rage in 15th century Spain. The verdugado was made from a series of wood hoops similar to toy hula hoops today. These hoops started out smaller at the top around the waist area and grew larger toward the hem of a womans skirt. Fabric would have been used to sew all the hoops together into one complete and cumbersome structure. Once it was finished, the entire hoopskirt would be worn under a womans dress to create a full and often larger than life appearance! Not everyone could afford to wear such a garment, however. Because they were expensive to make, only those who were wealthy could afford such lavish attire. Eventually, the verdugado made its way across Europe and was made in various sizes, shapes, and material. Called a farthingale in England, the verdugado became extremely popular there as well. While the average farthingale was white and made from simpler materials, Queen Elizabeth had a variety of hoopskirts in her wardrobe, including one that was pink and green and another that was orange and purple striped!