This sounds like a good project and I think you'll achieve your goal nicely.

The key is that it be simple, respectable and neatly made, without pretension or gaudiness. Its should speak well of her and her husband, indicate that she is a moral and principled person, and that, when seen in her husband's shop or in the public market, it represents her husband's virtues as well as her own, and serves as an example of her husband's tailoring skills.

It can be fashionable, and in fact should be, but it should not be pretentious. It should show that she knows her place within her world, and
fulfills her responsibility to it in a way that indicates her awareness and taste. Most importantly, it should never be immorally gaudy in a way that would speak ill of the wearer among her community, or discourage patronage at her husband's shop.

Tailor's wives sometimes had to demonstrate great persistence. Consider the experience poor Margaret Gardyner, formerly Margaret Abraham, had to undergo just to get payment from one customer:

"cxxix [1584, Trinity, Common Pleas. C.P. 40/1431/2141.] London, William Gardyner, esquire, and Margaret his wife, executrix of the will of Frement Abraham, against William Kete of London, gentleman.

The paintiffs said by Henry Burr their attorney that between 28 July 1572 and 5 April 1577 William Skete bought of the said Abraham black kersey, black cotton, linen called 'double Harford,' white fustian, brown canvas, russet fustian, double mockado, a pair of purple stockings, black double baize, two white canvas doublets, black mockado, two 'pair of paneled hose,' a pair of stockings, a brown canvas doublet, and a pair of kersey hose, to the total value of L14 9s. He was asked to pay by the said Abraham, and by the said Margaret while she was a widow, and by William Gardyner and the said Margaret after her marriage with him, but has never discharged the debt. It was considered that the plaintiffs should recover the debt with 40s. damages."

In regards to the clothing itself, consider a fitted English gown worn over a kirtle. It is very simple and very upright. The option for a red kirtle is sound here and the gown can be any number of colors, from black to murrey or green or violet. Should you wish to use shirt sleeves on the gown, pinned under-sleeves can add another element of detail. A black or white partlet, and cap, sets it all off. A modest ruff is appropriate, indicating your public presentability and possibly your own skills in making linen garments.

An example of such a set, worn as representing a tailor's wife (imagine that) suitable for your period is here:

www.ninyamikhaila.com/galleri...69-2.htm

A slightly later but just as elegantly simple example is here:

www.ninyamikhaila.com/galleri...590s.htm

I would strongly recommend avoiding cheap trim, matching hats and hanging sleeves. It is better to use no trim at all, or respectable modest velvet trim, rather than get gaudy with ribbon or corded loops. The same applies for hanging sleeves, which strike me as the ultra-ism. I don't think you would ever consider these things, thankfully.

Regarding purple, the court case mentioned above includes purple stockings. I've also found a purple jerkin. My research is for men's clothing, but TT remarks on page 41 that "shades of violet could be produced with mixtures of madder and woad, which allowed humble people to own garments of this colour. There are 29 examples in the Essex wills."

Have fun!

H