Michelle Hunter

The clothing worn during the medieval period depended not only on financial status, but also on occupation. Financial status was one of the most determining factors of what was worn, people were only allowed to dress as their means allowed them. That meant that the kings and queens and other members of the upper-classes had fine silk clothes while the lower class had uncomfortable, wool clothes. The wealthy were able to afford tailors to make all of their clothes while the lower classes made all their own clothes. The clothes of the wealthy were made of fine materials such as burnet, perse, lincoln scarlet, kersey, russet, damask, and sandal (Medieval Clothing).

The basic clothing worn for men during this period was the shirt, gipon, over-garments, outer-garments, legwear, footwear, and headwear. The gipon was worn over the shirt and had either lacing or buttons the entire length. It had a low neck and sleeves reaching to the wrist (Cunnington 57). Over-garments were worn over the gipon. For the upper class the over-garments laced or buttoned half way down the front where the skirt flared to knee length, the sleeves ending at the elbow. The over-garments of the lower class were put on over the head, had no lacing of buttons, and the skirt was usually ankle or knee length (Cunnington 57). There were three types of outer-garments: the cloak, shoulder capes, and capes with low collar (Cunnington 60). Legwear was either hose or stocking and could be worn at three lengths: knee length, thigh length, or calf length. The footwear was either boots or shoes made out of leather wrapped around the foot (Cunnington 62). Headwear was either a hood or a hat made out of varying materials (Cunnington 65).

Bibliography

Cunnington, C. Willett, and Phillis Cunnington. The Handbook of English Medieval Costume. Philadelphia: Dufour Editions, 1952.

Adele. Medieval Clothing. </http://www.kyrene.k12.az.us/schools/brisas/sunda/ma/1adele.htm>. (January 7, 1999).