The introduction of detachable ruffs in European fashion around 1550 marked a significant evolution in clothing styles. Originally small neck frills on shirts, ruffs transformed into elaborate, independent starched collars worn by both men and women. This fashion trend reflected the social and cultural dynamics of the time, emphasizing status and individuality in clothing while influencing subsequent styles in European attire.

Iconic in Elizabethan England, ruffs feature prominently in portraits and literature of the period, influencing poetic descriptions of courtly elegance and vanity in works by Shakespeare and contemporaries. The ruff became a symbol of status and identity, often explored in the context of love and social dynamics.