Sunday, May 9, 2010

Medieval clothes

In AD 476, with the fall of Western Roman Empire, medieval clothing begins. It saw the transition from classical to medieval clothing. Men wore breeches or trousers, a tunic (a variety of loose fitting garments extending to the hips or knees) with a silk and brightly colored border and a cloak. Women's medieval clothes on the other hand, included a kirtle, which was like a long tunic that covered an undershirt as well as concealed their leg. They used to wear a long tunic put on over the head. The super tunic had some design on the neck, sleeves, and edge. Then the women would place a cloak on that is fixed firmly below the chin. The cloaks were usually full length and had a cloth veil to conceal the hair. These were the basics of the medieval customs.
During Medieval time, much like today, the clothes that one wore signified the wearer's social status. The clothes of peasants were made from rough, homespun cloth that was often itchy and uncomfortable. The medieval clothing of the merchant and landlord’s classes on the other hand, were often made of smooth and luxurious fabrics that were expensive to purchase.

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