What the Word Means

• A wardrobe is simply a standing closet used to hold clothing. The word "armoire" is simply the French word for this particular item of furniture.
  
  

What Came Before

• Before the wardrobes that we know, clothing was stored more often than not in wooden trunks. It wasn't until a great deal later, once relative luxury was established with the building of palaces and castles, that armoires became more commonly used by the rich and noble.
  
  

Where the Name Came From

• The name "wardrobe" originally referred to a room in which a wealthy person's clothing would be kept. This separate room, which often had the walls covered by cabinets and standing closets, eventually became synonymous with the articles of furniture until they were both known as a wardrobe.
  
  

Size

• While armoires come in a variety of sizes now, during their popularity as an item for the wealthy, armoires were built using the rule of 8. Simply stated, the carpenter would consider the armoire large enough if, when it was completed, 8 small men could fit inside it.
  
  

Design

• Originally a wardrobe was only an open closet where clothing could be hung. As styles progressed and the drawer became more commonly used, we began to see the modern design, two empty areas at either side for full-length clothing and drawers down the center, become the norm.