Fashion in The Middle Ages Alex Retamar CP English 12 Mrs. Eckman Wissler 20 September 2017

What influenced the fashion of The Middle Ages? During the Middle Ages, fashion was decided to whether what social class people belonged to. England’s influence on fashion came from France, Spain, and Italy. The people of the Middle Ages were influenced by their King’s and Queen’s choice of clothing, who ruled their Kingdom. Another influence was the Crusades. They imported silks, damasks, satins, brocades, and velvet. They also imported dye (colors).

Royalty Clothing Fancy clothes was a status of symbols. Royalty wore mainly fur, wool, and leather garments. Laws were made across Europe, restricted royal courts choice of clothing. King Edward III imposed a law that only royalty could wear clothing made from gold and purple silk.

Colors Bright colors were worn. Both men and women of the wealthy wore colors. Each color meant something symbolic. The colors discovered in this time was; red, blue, purple, yellow, white, and black (black being mainly what the serfs wore.).

Men

King’s & Baron’s Clothing Kings clothing included the surcoat, belts of gold, and long stockings or hose. They wore a combination of shirts, belts, pants/socks/ and cloaks. Wore robes with rings or jewelry. Their shoes were colorful with pointed, curled toes. Even during hunting, the king preferred to wear clothes of silk, than practical hunting clothes. The long worn trousers were sometimes attached to the fine leather shoes. Carried purses. Though the King’s fashion was a bit more Fancy!

Knight’s Clothing Knights wore heavy armor made of metal. The two kings of armor was chainmail and plate armor. Chainmail- made of many little metal rings. Plate Armor- was better protection, but was heavier and less flexible than chainmail.

Serf’s Clothing The long worn trousers were sometimes attached to the shoes. Trousers were covered by long coats called Tunics. Wore a blouse or skin that was fastened by a leather belt round the waist. An overcoat or thick wool material were around his shoulders, half-way down his legs. On their feet they usually wore large boots, and sometimes shoes. Some mainly went bare-footed.

Women

Queen’s Clothing Only queens or princesses were allowed to wear velvet, satin, or ermine and veils. Usually with fur on top. Their shoes were made from silk or velvet, with leather coverlets for when they go outside. Their hair was worn with high headdress, long braids, buns, they covered their hair, had it loose, and others styles throughout time. Their gowns and sleeves were long and trailing, while they had tight lacing to make themselves thinner for better posture. Their skirts were made with decorations. Makeup- lead powder (for their face) and perfumes.

Upper Class Women’s Clothing The richer the women the more luxurious clothes she wore. Wore Kirtles- often worn over a skirt. Would be worn shorter when in public. Clothes were more tight fitting. A girdle was worn around their waist to show their appearance. Gowns and sleeves were long.

Lower Class Women’s Clothing Still wore long gowns with sleeveless tunics, but had wimples to cover their hair. Boots were covered with wooden patens to keep the feet dry. The outer clothes was rarely washed, but the linens were regularly. They spun wool into threads that were woven into the cloth for these garments.

Work Cited Fashion in The Middles Ages. thefinertimes.com. 2008-2017. 20 September 2017. http://www.thefinertimes.com/Middle- Ages/fashion-in-the-middle-ages.html Annenberg Foundation. CLothing. learner.org. 2017. 20 September 2017. http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/morcloth.html Northeastern Educational Television of Ohio. Ins. The Middle Ages. weasternreservepublicmedia.org. 2008. 20 September 2017 http://westernreservepublicmedia.org/middleages/feud_nobles.htm TSI. Middle Ages. ducksters.com. 2017. 20 September 2017. http://www.ducksters.com/history/middle_ages/knight_armor_and_weapons.php Christopher G. College. Women’s Fashion of The Medieval Era. citelight.com. 2017. 20 September 2017. https://www.citelighter.com/film-media/fashion/knowledgecards/womens-fashions-of-the-medieval-era Medieval Fashion. lordsandladies.org. 2017. 20 September 2017. http://www.lordsandladies.org/medieval-fashion.htm

Picture Cited Anastasia Romanova. Men’s Fashion of The Medieval Era. citelighter.com. https://www.citelighter.com/film-media/fashion/knowledgecards/mens-fashions-of-the- medieval-era 14th Century Clothing: Bourgeoise, Peasant- Women, And Noble Lady. medieval-spell.com. 2013. http://www.medieval-spell.com/Medieval-Fashion.html