Medieval Clothing Was Dictated By The Pyramid Of Power Which Was The Feudal System

Medieval clothing and fashion like everything else was dictated by the Pyramid of Power which was the Feudal System. Medieval clothes provided information about the status of the person wearing them. This was not just dictated by the wealth of the person. Only Royalty were permitted to wear clothes trimmed with ermine. Lesser Nobles were allowed to wear clothing trimmed with fox and otter. There were other Medieval clothing rules! The wives and children of tradesmen were to wear:
　　
"No veils, but such as are made with thread, nor any kinds of fur except those of lambs, rabbits, cats and fox"
　　
A 14th Century Act of Parliament decreed that:
　　
"All labourers and lower classes of people shall wear no kind of cloth but blankets and russets, nor use any girdles than such of those made of linen"
　　
Medieval Clothing - The Fabrics
　　
The type of cloth and fabric used for Medieval clothing was therefore extremely important. People of the Lower Classes wore clothing generally made of wool, linen and sheepskin. Medieval Nobles and Upper classes wore clothing made of velvets, furs, silks, lace, cottons and taffeta. Knights returning from the Crusades returned with silks and cottons from the Middle East. Velvets were imported from Italy. The materials worn by the Nobility came in a variety of different colors. The dyes used for coloring these clothes were expensive. The red dye came from a Mediterranean insect which provided a bright scarlet color. Green dyes came from lychen. the Dyerswoad plant provided dyes for the remaining blue-based colors.
　　
Practical Medieval Clothing
　　
The early Medieval clothing was distinguished by lots of different layers of clothing. Much of the time was spent outdoors or in draughty, cold castles and it was necessary to invest in warm clothing layers.
　　
The Medieval Clothing of Peasants
　　
The Medieval clothing of peasant men consisted of a Knee length tunic fastened with a belt. Others wore linen shirts or rough woollen shirts. Peasant men often went bare-legged or simply bound their legs with strips of linen. Peasant women wore a longer dress made of similar material which was also fastened with a belt.
　　
Medieval Clothing of Noblemen
　　
The Medieval clothing of the Noblemen consisted of trousers covered with long over tunics called bliauds. Tabards and Surcoats were also worn. These clothes were covered with full length cloaks. The cloaks were trimmed with an expensive fur and pinned at the shoulder with a broach. They wore shoes designed for castle wear made of silk, velvet, cloth or leather and fastened with a buckle. The indoor shoes worn with Medieval clothing were covered with wooden and leather outdoor overshoes. Hats were also part of a nobles clothing which were similar to a cap and pointed at the front. The materials were made of velvets, silks, lace, cottons and taffeta and dyed in bright colors. In the 14th century Medieval clothing included underclothes consisting of breeches, chemise and hose. Additional information is available by clicking the following link -Medieval Knights Armor
　　
Medieval Clothing of Noble Women
　　
The Medieval clothing of the Noble women consisted of many layers of clothes. They wore underclothes consisting of breeches, chemise and hose. The underclothes in Medieval Clothing were covered with an underskirt usually made of yellow or white linen or silk. The underskirt was covered with a long, trailing gown, or dress, with wide sleeves. The gowns were made of velvets, furs, silks, lace, cottons and taffeta. The hem and the neck of the gown (dress) and sleeves were often decorated with gems and lace. The gowns were covered with long over tunics called bliauds. Tabards and Surcoats were also worn over the gowns and dresses. These clothes were covered with full length mantel. The mantels were trimmed with an expensive fur and pinned at the shoulder with a broach. They wore shoes designed for castle wear made of silk, velvet, cloth or leather and fastened with a buckle. The indoor shoes were covered with wooden and leather outdoor overshoes. Women wore their hair long and plaited which was covered by a Wimple or a Guimpe - a piece of silk or linen draped and pinned over the hair, wrapped around the throat and tucked into the neckline of the gown. Hats were were later added as part of the clothing of a noble women which grew bigger as fashion dictated featuring tall points, some shaped as the horns of cows. The Medieval Clothing materials were made of velvets, silks, lace, cottons and taffeta and dyed in bright colors.
　　
Peasant men often wore woolen jackets with woolen pants or knickers. This ensemble was sometimes accented with a cottonshirt. Peasant men also wore medium-length tunics with bare legs or stockings. The tunics would be cinched with a rope or sash. Shoes and hats were luxuries that not all could afford, but peasant men sometimes wore shoes and hats made of cloth. What is commonly known as the wench look was the norm for female peasants.
　　
The wench look consisted of a long tunic commonly referred to as a kirtle. Kirtles were made of various materials, but usually of wool or linen for peasants. Kirtles were either laced in front similar to acorset or they were laced down the back. A loose fitting shirt would normally be worn underneath the kirtle if it were short-sleeved. A shirt may or may not have been necessary if the kirtle was long-sleeved. Long-sleeved kirtles usually had bell sleeves, which made an undershirt unnecessary.
　　
Unlike the rich, peasants could not afford the services of tailors, seamstresses, or weavers. Peasants were known to make their own clothes. Money was hard to come by so peasants often resorted to alternate means of meeting their needs. The barter system was popular. Bartering enabled peasants to trade goods or food in exchange for clothes and shoes. If a peasant could make good quality clothes, shoes, or hats, then they were in high demand and had an easy time trading in exchange for necessities.