A medieval noblewoman’s guide to dressing up. by sophie andrade. a look inside eleanor de montfort’s wardrobe, and why it was important for a 13th century countess to dress extravagantly and beautifully. people in the middle ages liked to layer up. including underwear and outerwear, an everyday outfit regularly consisted of at least six. Article. as in just about any other period of history, clothing in the middle ages was worn for necessity, comfort, and display. bright colours and rich decorations made for a striking medieval wardrobe, at least among the wealthy, although there was a surprising similarity in clothes for different social classes and the sexes.
1300–1400 in european fashion. clothing of the first half of the 14th century is depicted in the codex manesse. in the lower panel, the man is dressed as a pilgrim on the way of st james with the requisite staff, scrip or shoulder bag, and cockle shells on his hat. the lady wears a blue cloak lined in vair, or squirrel, fur. The old adage, “vestim verus facit” – or, the clothes make the man – was evidently truer in thirteenth century noble society than it is today. sophie andrade is a recent graduate of the university of st andrews with an mlitt in medieval studies. her research focuses on medieval women, music, manuscripts, and castles. These connections brought new styles, fabrics, and techniques, enriching the tapestry of high end fashion. in the end, clothing for noble women in the medieval period was an intricate blend of aesthetics, symbolism, and tradition. far more than mere garments, these dresses narrated tales of lineage, privilege, and societal structures. The cotehardie was a 1300 1500’s unisex garment tailored to fit the torso and arms, usually with a row of buttons down the front as well as down each fitted sleeve from the elbow to the wrist. women’s coathardies trailed on the floor.it was mostly worn in 1300’s and early 1400’s – at least without anything over it.
These connections brought new styles, fabrics, and techniques, enriching the tapestry of high end fashion. in the end, clothing for noble women in the medieval period was an intricate blend of aesthetics, symbolism, and tradition. far more than mere garments, these dresses narrated tales of lineage, privilege, and societal structures. The cotehardie was a 1300 1500’s unisex garment tailored to fit the torso and arms, usually with a row of buttons down the front as well as down each fitted sleeve from the elbow to the wrist. women’s coathardies trailed on the floor.it was mostly worn in 1300’s and early 1400’s – at least without anything over it. High medieval fashion of the nobility, 12th to 14th century europe and britain for most of the early middle ages, the clothing worn by men and women of the nobility shared a basic pattern with that worn by the working classes, but was generally made of finer fabric, in bolder and brighter colors, and at times with additional decoration. An image from 966 shows english king edgar (959 975) flanked by the virgin mary and st. peter. edgar is dressed in a knee length tunic and cloak, with leather stockings extending from ankle to knee. the female figure wears a long, loose woolen gown, a mantle, and a head covering.
High medieval fashion of the nobility, 12th to 14th century europe and britain for most of the early middle ages, the clothing worn by men and women of the nobility shared a basic pattern with that worn by the working classes, but was generally made of finer fabric, in bolder and brighter colors, and at times with additional decoration. An image from 966 shows english king edgar (959 975) flanked by the virgin mary and st. peter. edgar is dressed in a knee length tunic and cloak, with leather stockings extending from ankle to knee. the female figure wears a long, loose woolen gown, a mantle, and a head covering.
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