Fashion in the Middle Ages

If you were wealthy in the Middle Ages you would most likely own a range of clothes, in the latest styles and colors. If you were a meager peasant, you may only own just one tunic. This implies that everything you wore in the Middle Ages largely depended on your social status in the society

Historically
When the Roman Empire came down, the only huge influence left in Europe was the Church. This was echoed in the self-effacing dress of the age. During this period "barbarian" tribes such as the Goths, the Vikings, and the Huns subjugated Europe. Terror and unawareness ruled the Western world. Europeans were troubled with continued existence and garments had to be practical. But by the year 1000 AD, people began to focus on things other than the afterworld. The first movement effectively captured Jerusalem in 1099 AD. This brought fresh fabrics and creation techniques to all of Europe

Dark Ages
Illustration of European dress before 900 AD is atypical. It is tricky to in fact inform what was worn in the Dark Ages, but we do know that the garments worn around 500 AD were very fundamental. The bliaut, a long over-garment, was worn by both genders. It was baggy enough to be put on over the head and had bell sleeves for women and was in a straight line to the wrist for men.

Romanesque and Early Gothic
During the 11th Century, we see the creation of clothing improving; shearing scissors had been used in Europe to spruce animals as well as trim cloth but they were burdensome and made for jagged cloth. After the Crusades the soldiers brought back scissors made solely for cloth. These smaller scissors made an enormous enhancement in the creation of garments. Luxurious fabrics, such as damasks, velvets, and satin, were also imported to Europe along with enhanced weaving techniques.

Late Gothic
A brilliant technique of the middle Ages is the intricate female headdresses. During the mid 1300's, hair was braided stylishly. Hair nets made from silk and gold thread held the buns in position. This fashion gave way to a complete trend of rolled hair coverings and crazily creative headdresses. The best known headdress of this era is the butterfly. A steeple twisted Henning and the horned veil were both trendy in this era. They both entirely enclosed the hair which gave way to the late 1400's style of plucked eyebrows and shaved foreheads.

Tailoring
In the middle Ages, for the affluent, most garments were created by tailors. Some fabrics tailors used were: Lincoln scarlet, Burnet, perse, chalons, damask, kersey, russet and sandal. (Most of the masses, on the other hand, made their garments themselves).

Garments
Frequently, kings and queens wore crowns and brilliantly decorated silks. Apparently, their garments were very costly as they had enough wealth to afford such stunning clothes. General masses often wore borealis hats. The garments they wore with that were woolen coats with fur-trimmed sleeves. Within the coat was a woolen doublet.