Medieval Clothing - Clothes in the Middle Ages
The types of medieval clothing that was worn usually depended on the social status of the people from the 11th through the 13th centuries. If you looked at someone who was known for their nobility and considered “upper class” you would have easily been able to distinguish them from someone of a “lower class.”
During the Middle Ages, the medieval clothing of the peasant was very simple while the medieval clothing of nobility was fitted with a very distinct emphasis on the sleeves of the garments. Knights wore sleeveless “surcoats” that was almost always covered with a coat of arms. The Barbarian nomads medieval clothing was made of fur, wool and leather. They were usually seen wearing long trousers, some of which even had attached feet. They also wore fine leather shoes with their medieval clothing. Some chose to wear imports such as turbans and silks from the East. These were common for the more fortunate. Those who were considered royalty were seen wearing better materials such as silk robes and damask gowns and often wore brighter colors.
Of course, through the Middle Ages, the medieval clothing styles changed periodically. At the end of the 13th century, the tunics which were once loose and flowing were worn with a more tight fitting. Besides their tunics, the men also wore undershirts and briefs which were covered by a sleeveless jacket and an additional tunic on top. They chose to wear stockings to complete their ensemble. To add to their medieval clothing, the men also wore cloaks with a round opening that they slipped over their heads. They wore these as their jackets.
Part of the women’s medieval clothing were “kirtles.” These were tunics of which they wore to their ankles. They often wore these tunics over a shirt. When the women were out in public, they would sometimes put an even shorter “kirtle” over their tunic. The more “well off” women wore more luxurious clothing than those of a lower class lifestyle. Married women usually wore tight-fitting caps and nets over their hair, and their hair was usually wrapped in a bun on their heads. Other women could be seen wearing veils over their hair which they either left hang loosely or would put in a tight braid. Both men and women usually wore sheepskin cloaks and woolen hats and mittens in the winter to protect them from the cold and the rain.