When I see paintings of noble and aristocratic women in Tudor England (specifically during the time of Henry VIII), they are always shown covering all or at least some of their long hair with some sort of veil or hood. What is the reason for this? Was it just a fashion statement of a woman's wealth and nobility? Did they serve a practical purpose (like keeping the head warm and protecting the head from solar radiation and precipitation)? Or was it intended to help them comply with the standards of female modesty and beauty at the time? If so, when and where did standards originate and why were they in place? Was it even allowed for noble and aristocratic women in Tudor England to go out in public with long hair fully uncovered?