Clothing In The Middle Ages

During Colonial America (1600-1650), there were obvious European influences since all the settlers had just sailed to America from Europe and brought their clothing with them. This fashion of this period is characterized by the disappearance of the ruffles around the neckline and hose on men. The settlers’ clothing was very simple with basic patterns, cuts, and colors while they always covered the entire body. The silhouette, which was essentially close to the body with tight sleeves and a low, pointed waist, was popular to around 1615, and gradually softened and broadened. Sleeves became very full, and in the 1620s and 1630s were often paned or slashed to show the voluminous sleeves of the shirt or chemise beneath.

It was fashionable to wear high double horn headdresses. Only wealthy people could hire tailors. Silk was worn to be seen just as much to be felt. “Looms wove the cloth in grid fashion, enabling them to stretch more effectively at certain angles than at others” (http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/medieval/clothing/) Popele sometimes wore loose linen or wool tunics like big baggy t shirts. Clothing became more complicated in the middle ages. In the 1300s, to make sure wealthy merchants were not confused with nobles, and craftsmen were not confused with wealthy merchants, laws were passed in towns and villages about what kind of clothes each group could wear. Wearing pants was originally a Germanic idea, and the Romans disapproved of it. But it gradually caught on anyway, especially among men who rode horses and in colder areas. Other men, especially noblemen, wore tights under their tunics. Outside, if it was cold, men wore wool cloaks. (http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/medieval/clothing/) Women mainly wore long sleeved linen dresses called chemises as underwear. Over the top they wore wool tunics with sleeves. Men wore long shirts and tunics, with stocking or

There was a very clear line in between the wealthy and the poor. Peasants during the era wore layers of belted tunics, cloaks, hats, and boots or clogs for warmth. These types of clothing would never be seen on the wealthier class of people. Many fashion trends from the renaissance time period carried on from time period to time period and are very prevalent still today.

Ever wonder where the strange fashion choices of society’s favorite Disney movies originated? It might be a bit of an understatement to say that the apparel of men during the Elizabethan Era was odd, but each piece of their outfit had a crucial role to play in their daily life. Clothing worn during the Elizabethan Era was greatly dictated by the Sumptuary Laws, the wealth of the individual, and fashion trend of neighboring countries.

Medieval tailors are considered to have truly started fashion, by creating wild and unrealistic clothing. Medieval tailors impacted life forever, but they were just mere peasants, and most were very poor. When you think of the middle ages, you may think of knights in shining armour, castles, and jesters, but life in the middle ages was very difficult. Tailors were very skilled, but they didn’t get much pay. The tailor might not have made much money, but tailors were very important.

Clothing expression in medieval Europe, like all other forms of artistic expression at this time, found it's biggest outlet in the ecclesiastical field, as this was where all the money was to be found. The churches employed all the best builders and craftsmen in creating their great cathedrals, and art works. In clothing, the church dictated what sorts of materials were made, and brought into the area, what colors were in use, and what styles were used, influencing the secular as well as ecclesiastical dress. In the feudal system only great Barons and their families wore fine cloths, as clothing was a symbol of rank and importance. Each family made their own clothes, so fashion was very individualistic in style, and each family had their own characteristics. With an increase of wealth in the area, and the beginning of the crusades, new elaborate styles were introduced into the scene. Fashions became strange, and grotesque in nature reflecting the constant struggles and wars of the time, as fantasy and the grotesque generally influence social costumes accompanying times of war. Women in their headgear actually wore huge horns, like an ox, that towered above them and supported a veil, and men's shoes were peaked and extended six inches in front of them for common men, and a foot for gentlemen, and two feet for noblemen.

What a king used to wear in the medieval times were surcoat, belts of gold, long stockings or hose, long under tunics made of silk and embroidered with gold thread and other warm clothing to keep the warm, the colour purple was usually reserved for the clothing of kings and was a sign of respect and admiration at those times. On the other side peasant men wore stockings or tunics, while women wore long gowns with sleeveless tunics and wimples to cover their hair. Sheepskin cloaks and woollen hats and mittens were worn in winter for protection from the cold and rain. Leather boots were covered with wooden patens to keep the feet dry. The peasants’ clothes were really dirty and rarely washed. The clothes were not that warm for both of them, they

Today we often conceal the genitals but, this was also the case during the fourteenth century. From the late 1200’s and the early 1600’s men wore a simple piece of fabric that would tie down to the individuals. The purpose of the padded garment would emphasize the area of the scrotum region of a male. It may sound ridiculous but, English men of status took pride in the freedom of showing off their crotch. This paper will deal with the history, style and overall reasoning why men wore these garments. The codpiece is a garment of clothing that still has historical significance today.

The Crusades influenced fashion a lot when many different products like silks, satins, damasks, and more were able to be traded from the east. The Heian Period and Medieval Europe differ in many ways. The Heian Period and Medieval Europe both have very

The Elizabethan age was the beginning of consumer culture; clothing was the most obvious way of showing the new wealth. The Elizabethan fashion was different from our fashions of today. The class levels also differed in clothes. The higher classes having the better clothes of course, lower class had the less appealing attire. Elizabethan costume became lavish, looking better than any other period before it.

Some might ask, why was clothing in the Elizabethan Era so monumental? The ruler of The Elizabethan Era, Elizabeth I, who possessed two thousand exquisite gowns upon her death was a woman, with her being a woman, fashion was nothing to be toyed with; it was serious business(Lad). Fashion in the Elizabethan Era defined citizens as persons; colors, fabrics, and even hair lines could indicate whether you belong to the lavish upper class or the lower class clothed in wool. Clothing of the Elizabethan Era was indeed serious business, so serious that Elizabeth I introduced the Statues of Apparel In Greenwich on June 15, 1574. (Alchin)

The appearance of the Kings in Medieval Times was influenced by the styles of the Romans. The fashion was very flagrant. There are many different styles that are very different from the styles we have today. The Kings wore very expensive clothing, a lot of jewelry, and very expensive stones. They also wore a lot of gold and silver. For the wealthy like the Kings, living during the medieval time period most likely wasn’t so bad.

What did you wear? The clothing in the middle ages was easily distinguishable by class. Monks, peasants, knights, and royals all wore different clothing. Monks in the Middle ages dressed very plainly to show their poverty . They wore mainly clothing made of undyed wool, which is grey, white, or brown (Alchin, “Monks”).

Things like clothing varied from each period. While during the Medieval times, it seemed as if the fashionable look was narrow and ease of the garment, whereas in the Renaissance, they used extravagant cloths and furs, along with padding for a broad silhouette. During the Renaissance, clothing molded you into the fashionable shapes and sizes.

Next, actors had to abide by the sumptuary laws even while performing on stage. Therefore the second a performer walked onto the stage the audience could tell their role in the play just by looking at the color of the costume. “The Material and Fabric also had a similar effect,” the audience could tell what class the character was in by the quality of their costume and also it gave important information on that individual’s role (Elizabethan Actors). “Queen Elizabeth I had to give actors special licenses” to wear upper class clothes to fit their character or position (Globe Theatre Costume). When nobility or upper class people would come to see a play they would say it was like a double fashion show. The fabric and color of a person’s garments represented different pieces of information about them and since clothing was part of society and law everyone knew what the color or material meant.