In the Elizabethan times women did not have the freedom to wear what they preferred, regardless if they came from a higher or lower class. The Sumptuary laws dictated the clothing and accessories that they were required to wear. The whole purpose of the law was to control behavior and to make sure that you maintained your class. If you were to break any of these laws you could end up with fines, the loss of property, title, and even life. The goal behind Elizabethan period was to show their status and society and to make them look attractive. Women were willing to do anything to make their waste look small and petite as possible. They would use whalebones to get their actual size. Women in the Elizabethan days wore ruffles to show their position in society. Women in the upper class wore rich and luxurious materials, and had elegant style. While the lower class had basic material, and they wanted to raise their status by following the fashion on the upper class. To get their skirt shape, many women would use hip pad. The gown was either tied in the front or laced at the back. The neck of the dress was squared and low in the front. The dress was usually a V-shape or a U shape at the back.