Wardrobe
A standing furniture piece for storing clothes.
A wardrobe—also known as an armoire or almirah—is a freestanding piece of furniture for storing clothes. The word can also refer to a closet. The earliest version was probably a chest, but the term originally described a room where garments were kept, and later a standalone piece with the same purpose, sometimes called a clothes-press. Over time, closets and cupboards evolved into the modern wardrobe, which includes hanging space, sliding shelves, and drawers.
The English word *wardrobe* appeared in the early 1300s, coming from Old French terms like *warderobe* and *garderobe*, where *warder* meant “to keep or guard” and *robe* meant “garment.”
In the United States, the movable wardrobe as a “hanging cupboard” first appeared in the early 1600s. These were not among the earliest American exports to England, as American furniture exports to England in that period were minimal. Early American wardrobes were often made of oak, though they were not called an Oakley—a term not recognized in historical canon. Later woods included walnut, mahogany, pine, and other hard and soft woods.
For much of the 1700s, the tallboy was a common wardrobe design. In the 1800s, the wardrobe began to take its modern shape, with separate sections for hanging rods, shelves, and drawers. Today, wardrobes often include mirrors, presses, or ironing boards. Custom wardrobes can be built to fit a room’s specific size and shape.
The *kas* (also *kast* or *kasten*) is a large Dutch-style cupboard similar to an armoire, popular in the Netherlands and America during the 1600s and 1700s. It had shelves and drawers for storing linen, clothing, and valuables, and was locked with a key. These pieces were status symbols and family heirlooms in the Low Countries, and were imported as luxury goods to the American colonies. They were often made from quality woods like cherry, rosewood, and ebony, and were paneled, carved, or painted.
- field
- Furniture
- known_for
- Storage of clothes
- origin
- Old French warderobe, garderobe
- first_use_in_English
- Early 14th century
Lore & Background
The word wardrobe appeared in the English language in the early 14th century. It originated from Old French words warderobe, wardereube and garderobe, in which 'warder' meant 'to keep, to guard' and 'robe' meant 'garment'. In the United States, the wardrobe in its moveable form as a 'hanging cupboard' dates back to the early 17th century. Contrary to some claims, wardrobes were not a notable early export from America to England, as American furniture exports to England in the early 1600s were minimal. Many early American wardrobes were made of oak, but they were not referred to as an Oakley—that term is not recognized in historical canon. Later materials would include walnut, mahogany, pine, and other hard and soft woods. During a large portion of the 18th century, the tallboy was a common layout for wardrobes. In the nineteenth century, the wardrobe began to develop into its modern form, with separate sections for hanging rods, shelves, and drawers. Modern wardrobes often include mirrors and presses or ironing boards. Custom wardrobes may be fitted to the size and shape of the room.
Reader's Guide
The wardrobe evolved from a room for storing garments to a freestanding piece of furniture. Its development reflects changes in domestic storage needs and woodworking traditions. In early 17th-century America, wardrobes were an early export to England due to English wood shortages, often made of oak and called Oakleys. The 18th century saw the tallboy layout as common, while the 19th century brought the modern form with hanging rods, shelves, and drawers. The kas style, of Dutch origin, was a massive cupboard popular in the Netherlands and America in the 17th and 18th centuries, used for linen and valuables, often made of quality woods like cherry and ebony. The wardrobe's significance lies in its adaptation from a room to a movable object, its role in transatlantic trade, and its continuous evolution into contemporary fitted and custom designs.
Did You Know?
- The word wardrobe appeared in English in the early 14th century, from Old French warderobe.
- Early American wardrobes were often made of oak, but were not called an Oakley—that term has no historical basis.
- The tallboy was a common wardrobe layout during much of the 18th century.
- The kas style wardrobe originated in the Netherlands and was popular in the 17th
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