HOME •
CLOTHES & ACCESSORIES •
FABRICS & SEWING
• GLOSSARY of CLOTHING TERMS
• BEAUTY & HYGIENE
• MANNERS •
SAINTS • A
WOMAN'S LIFE
HISTORICAL
RE-ENACTMENT • MY
RE-ENACTMENT LIFE • MY NOTICEBOARD
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• LINKS • MY
SUPPLIERS • SITE MAP •
EMAIL
ME
|
THE
KIRTLE
|
Items of clothing Many items of medieval clothing are known
by more than name. The basic medieval dress may be known at different
periods of time or different regions as different things. Thus, a tunic,
kirtle, kyrtle or gown may be essentially the same garment. Margherita Datini, the wife of a wealthy
merchant and a member of the upper classes, will serve as our model woman.
She is pictured below at left. Her wardrobe is listed concisely in 1339.
Copyright
© Rosalie Gilbert |
It
included 2 gowns, 11 surcotes of differing cut and fullness, a rich overgown
of heavy silk which her husband Francesco Datini had imported from Rumania.
She had six cold weather mantles, also full-cut, a number of headdresses
of a variety of shapes and sizes, a fur cap, a cloth cap, a straw hat
for summer, two leather belts with silver gilt buckles, wooden pattens
with leather laces, one pair of backless leather slippers with thick soles
called pianelles, white linen undersocks, long hose of silk or
wool, at least two veils, one of silk made in Venice. She owned at least
two purses of embroidered wool, a peacock feather fan and handkerchiefs
made of Sicilian silk. It is noted that Margherita carried her veil, purse,
fan and handkerchief at her side at all times.