Medieval Dresses

Dresses in medieval times reflected the social status of the individual. The Lords of manors, for example wore a light shirt made of linen as their undergarment. A heavy decorated gown called a houppelande, sometimes made of velvet was worn over it. A belt with a purse attached was worn with a belt buckle made of jewels. The gown had bagpipe sleeves, which were baggy but tight at the sleeves. A hat called a chaperon was favored by the lords, the hat used to have long tails called liripipes. Pointed shoes were preferred and during winter a heavy fur lined cloak was worn. The ladies usually wore woollen gowns that were very long with sleeves that could touch the ground.

Clothing worn by royal people was brightly colored and made of soft material. Ladies usually wore woolen gowns that were very long. A coat called a surcoat was worn over the gown. Ladies had their clothes embroidered. Fur lined cloaks were worn to keep warm- these cloaks were fastened by a decorative cord or jeweled clasp around the shoulders. Pattens, which were shoes with high bottoms, were wooden shoes used when it was muddy outside. It was fashionable in the medieval ages for women to wear jewellery.

A rough tunic to keep warm was worn by the peasant and a simple cloak over the tunic was used. As leather shoes were not affordable for the serfs, they wore cloth ones, in muddy conditions they worked barefoot and in winter they wore uncomfortable wooden shoes.
The main materials used were wool, linen, leather, fur sometimes silk and velvet. Finland was a major supplier for high quality fur pelts.

Married women in medieval times wore veils, if unmarried she let her hair loose.
Women in the medieval ages did not wear panties but men did and also wore a hose which was sewn to the undergarment.