Medieval
Clothing & Dress Accessories
 Medieval
clothing is an immensely broad term, covering the basic tunics
of the 10th century, the cottes and bliants of the 12th and 13th
centuries, the fitted kirtles, gowns and cotes of the 14th and
15th centuries to the massive houppelands and Burgundian gowns
of the later 15th century.
What I will be primarily
dealing with in this website is the 14th century woman's garments-
what they looked like and how they were put together. There is
a little general information either side as the lower classes
clothing did not differ greatly during a few hundred years. There
is a little about the clothing of other times.
The 14th century outfit comprised
of many layers. The chemise or smock of fine linen was worn next
to the skin along with any undergarments. The kirtle or gown,
a fitted dress, was worn over that. A surcote of some kind was
usually worn by women who could afford to do so as a fashion statement
or by other women if it was cooler. This garment could have sleeves
and be almost identical to the dress which was under it or be
sideless to show off the garment underneath. For traveling, another
more voluminous surcote might be added as well as a cloak.
As fabric was handmade and
very expensive, clothing was seen as a status symbol- the richer
the wearer, the better quality and more costly the fabric and
the more voluminous the garments. Wealthier persons wore more
layers, often lined with expensive furs in winter, while those
with a more moderate income wore less layers which were often
unlined.
Sumptuary Laws concerned themselves with expensive dress and attempted
to limit the fabrics and furs which were permitted to each class
of person. The laws of 1363 condemned 'outrageous and excessive
apparel of diverse people, contrary to their estate and degree'
and were exceedingly specific as to what fabrics and furs were
permitted to whom.
The pages which look at aspects
of women's clothing are as follows:
ABOUT
CLOTHES
ACQUIRING CLOTHES
- Where to get your clothes
CLOTHES FROM ART
- Interpreting artworks to make medieval clothes
SUMPTUARY LAWS
- Clothing regulations for the classes
GLOSSARY - Glossary
of clothing and personal adornment terms
CLOTHING CARE
- Care, storage, redying & rehemming and laundering techniques
ITEMS
OF CLOTHING
COTES & TUNICS
- Early medieval women's clothes
KIRTLES - A look at
the 14th century medieval dress
SURCOTES - The outer
layers
HOUPPELANDES
- The late medieval outer gown
15th CENTURY GOWNS
- Burgundian gowns and late medieval gowns
MATERNITY WEAR
- For the medieval mother-to-be
CLOAKS &
MANTLES - The medieval cloak and mantle
CORSETS - What it
is and what it isn't
UNDERWEAR - A lady's
underclothes reveal'd
- CHEMISES - The
chemise, shift or smock
- BRAS & BUST SUPPORT
- Bras, support and structure
- UNDERPANTS -
What did they wear 'down there'
- HOSE & GARTERS
- Leg coverings and support
SLEEPWEAR - What
to wear to bed
DRESS
ACCESSORIES
TIPPETS & LAPPETS
- The arm accessories of the late 14th century
BELTS & GIRDLES
- Belts and belt fittings
PURSES & BAGS -
Purses, pouches, aumonieres and bags
HEADWEAR
- COIFS
- CROWNS &
CIRCLETS
- HEADDRESSES
- Templars, cylinder cauls, hennins, crowns and more
- HATS & HENNINS
- VEILS &
WIMPLES - What it is and why to wear one
- HOODS - The buttoned-up
hood
FOOTWEAR - 14th century
shoes, slippers and sandals
JEWELLERY Medieval
jewellery and the significance of gemstones
- BROOCHES - Marriage
brooches, pilgrim badges & cloak fasteners
- RINGS - Women's finger
rings
- NECKLACES - Necklaces,
pendants and collars
- PATERNOSTERS &
ROSARIES - Church approved jewellery
- RELIQUARIES
- For your holy relics
GLOVES - for rich and
for poor
APRONS
To Look at some existing
examples of dress accessories, please visit my study collection
of medieval artifacts at the
Gilbert Collection here.
Copyright
© Rosalie Gilbert
All text & photographs within this site are the property
of Rosalie Gilbert unless stated.
Art & artifact images remain the property of the owner.
Images and text may not be copied and used without permission.
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