What are sumptuary laws?

Sumtuary laws also governed clothing and household goods.

The laws were passed during the reigns of Henry VII and Mary, however they were routinely ignored and were hard to enforce. Besides the royal family, and in many cases the high noble men, none wear...

In France between 1273 and 1789, laws were made for the smaller cast people in France.These laws were called 'SUMPTUARY LAWS'.these laws mainly said that only the royalty could wear expensive stuff...

By the middle of the 17th century, most of them had gone of out of fashion. Although you could argue the point that the Smoking ban and the drinking of Alcohol in public places is a Sumptuary Law.

It means essentially the same thing as the current 'in-vogue' phrase, "It is, what it is." It means the law is not negotiable. It may not seem just in some cases but it is, above all else, the law.