Medieval Women's Clothing In Medieval Society

Women wore underdresses made of linen or flax and woollen overdresses like aprons with straps fastened by decorative brooches. Over the dresses and aprons she wore cloaks or shawls made of wool. Their shoes were made of leather. They had long hair and usually wore scarves.

Fashion is a big part of many people's lives, but it is constantly changing and growing. In the Elizabethan time fashion was very different than it is today. For example trends and materials used have changed. The colors people wore told a lot about who they were, unlike today. Some parts of fashion have stayed pretty constant throughout the years. For example today and then there are known designers around the world. Also fashion still impacts lives greatly. So when looking at fashion throughout the years it is evident that materials, trends, color usage, designers, and the impact on society has greatly changed and is still changing.

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.

Clothing was also an important part in men's lives. The Sumptuary laws implied to not only the women, but to the men too. Men also wore many layers, some similar to the women. According to Linda Alchin, "The fashions were designed to give the impression of a small waist-especially desired by the women but also emulated by men" (Elizabethan Upper Class Fashion). They wore most of the following under layers: a shirt, stockings, a codpiece, and a corset. Then, most of the following over layers: a doublet, separate sleeves, breeches, a belt, a ruff, a cloak, and boots or flat shoes. Men's clothing fashions were related to those of women's due to the similar, and many layers.

Elizabethan fashion influenced the modern day fashion world in many aspects. In Elizabethan times, fashion was often used to show status in society, and was very important to women. Fashion today can be compared to the same aspects. Women wear different brands or types of clothing to show status or capital. Although women don’t wear as many layers of dress clothing, women often are

The women of a higher class would have extremely extravagant gowns and outfits. On a regular day they would wear a smock or shift, stockings, a corset, farthingale (a hooped skirt), a rowle, a stomacher, a petticoat, a kirtle, forepant, and a partlet. Over those clothes the women would wear a gown, separate sleeves, a ruff, a cloak, shoes and a hat. These were the clothing items that the women would wear on a daily basis.     

Men wore tunics with a linen undershirt to prevent the itchy wool from reaching the skin as a staple garment of clothing. Richer men wore shoes that were slightly pointed, sometimes embroidered. Working men wore leather shoes or shoes made out of cloth that fitted closely to their feet, similar to slippers. This ensured they could work effectively on the field. Men from the noble classes had access to a variety of styles and colours (see figure 1) while poorer peasants kept it simple (see figure 2). Women wore tunics with long sleeves, with kirtles/chemises as the linen undergarment. They also wore veils and headdresses. Again, richer women had access to the latest styles and expensive materials such as silk.

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

The people who lived during the Elizabethan Era were not allowed to wear whatever they like or desired. Their Fashion choices had to be followed by a strict law! The English people chose to establish social classes by the colors they wore and this had an affect on costumes used in theatre. Queen Elizabeth I followed the sumptuary laws, which was only certain classes were consent to wear specific fabric and colors. Therefore in plays the actors could only wear certain colors for their costumes that displayed what role and class their character was in. The clothes worn during this era was a result of Queen Elizabeth’s sumptuary laws, which had an affect on costumes used in plays, and each color a person wore had a significant meaning.

Women from the medieval times had clear roles. The women had strict rules to follow by. When it came to marriage, the wives had to submit to their husbands and follow their lead. Women were supposed to be cleaning, stay at home with the kids, cook, make clothes, etc. The women who steered away from these “typical” roles, made very interesting characters. The majority of gender expectations came from the church and biblical history. Since Eve was the cause for the fall of man, there were a lot of anti-feminist feelings. Women were held accountable for the majority of man’s suffering, and were consequently inferior and to be dominated by men. Purity, holiness, and chastity, were all presumptions of women from outstanding role models like the Virgin Mary.

Garments were typically made of materials extending from coarse to fine surface. Men as a rule wore a short skirt called a kilt. Ladies wore a straight fitting dress held up by straps. The well off men wore creased kilts, and the more established men wore a more drawn out kilt. While doing diligent work, men wore a loin fabric, and

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.

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.

A woman in medieval times was not considered a person, but property. A woman would be forced to wear layers of drab clothing, the style determining their social class ranking. A woman of wealth would wear decadent gowns and women in poverty would wear plain spun dresses. Their goal in life was to find a husband, to give in to his whims and be the epitome of submission. Sometimes, peasant girls would be forced to take up a trade prior to marriage. After the marriage, she was forced to give up this trade, the skill she possessed, and either maintain the lifestyle as a housewife, or help her husband with his trade. In regards to whom a woman married, there was little to no choice in the matter. Often, girls were married to strange men, men they

Through study of the Carolingian World, the people of the time’s affinity for one’s status and ways of presenting said status, becomes quite apparent. The Carolingian people not only seem to put great importance on social ranking, but also place emphasis on the different techniques of showing one’s status and processes of rising in the social hierarchy. However, by viewing texts written during said time, the lack of a certain group of people, women, is unnerving and raises the question of the importance of women in establishing a families status and importance. As Valerie L. Garver relates in her text “Women and Aristocratic Culture in the Carolingian World”, women and the culture