Learnings: Fashion: A Status Symbol

A mixed selection of jewelry prized by Scandinavians / c. Viking Age

Deep, richly coloured fabrics were valuable. Rich colours meant that the material had been dyed more than once. Because dyeing was expensive, wearing colourful clothing was a sign of wealth. Some colours were intended specifically for high society. According to archaeologists, blue fabrics were often worn by the very wealthy.

Jewelry was another sign of social status. The more expensive the jewelry, the wealthier its wearer. The size, material, and quality of pieces of jewelry determined their value. Silver was the most common metal in jewelry. Gold would have been worn only by very wealthy individuals. Colourful glass or stone beads were also prized fashion accessories.