| Medieval costumes from the 11th to the 13th century | | | | - Peasant women's attire consisted of a long tunic |
| were a representation of the people's social standing. | | | | commonly called kirtle usually made of wool and linen. |
| Members of the nobility dressed a lot more affluently | | | | They were sometimes laced in front like a corset or |
| than those belonging to the lower social classes. | | | | were laced down at the back. |
| People's professions were also easily identified by the | | | | - Women endured the wearing of more than one layer |
| medieval clothing that they used. Back then, medieval | | | | of tunics for their medieval clothing, but they did not |
| costumes were an integral part of a social structure | | | | use knickers. |
| with a clear delineation between the rich and the poor. | | | | - They never wore pants, but they sometimes had |
| For the men, the following are the usual medieval | | | | socks on. |
| costumes: | | | | - Elite women wore fancy tall hats decorated to high |
| - Peasant men mostly wore woolen jackets with | | | | heavens. |
| woolen pants or knickers, sometimes accented with a | | | | - They thought it beautiful to have high foreheads, so |
| cotton shirt. Hats, socks and shoes are not an option | | | | they plucked hair from their foreheads. |
| to many peasants simply because they could not | | | | - The medieval dresses of wealthy women of the |
| afford it. | | | | medieval age were elaborately done. In earlier |
| - Aristocratic men mostly wore a jacket and a hose. | | | | medieval period, the attire used to consist of a long |
| The sleeve designs for rich people were more | | | | tunic like a gown and elaborate head covers. |
| elaborate than the working classes. Their medieval | | | | - Married women also wore tight fitting caps and nets |
| clothes were mostly made from expensive fabrics like | | | | over their hair, which was tied in a bun. |
| silk and satin. | | | | - Others had veiled, and let their hair hang loose or |
| - Nomadic barbarians' clothes were made of fur, wool | | | | braided. However, there was a time in history that |
| and leather to protect them from the cold climate of | | | | letting ones hair loose is associated with witchcraft, so |
| their region. They had long trousers and leather shoes. | | | | women had developed several styles of braiding the |
| - Tunics were first worn loose but soon evolved into a | | | | hair, which was usually done by hairdressers. However, |
| tight fitting garment. | | | | not all women can afford to pay hairdressers or maids |
| - Most men wore their tunics up to the knees, but old | | | | to do their hair thus they relied on their clothes and |
| men and monks wore them up to the ground. Kings | | | | inherent features to beautify themselves. |
| and other members of the nobility also had their tunics | | | | More than today's generation, people during the |
| up to their feet whenever there are formal occasions. | | | | medieval age were more concerned at what they |
| - Trousers were Germanic and the Romans initially | | | | wore in relation to their standing in the society. The |
| were not akin to it. However, the practicality of using | | | | medieval costumes' importance transcended more |
| trousers proved to be more potent than racial divisions | | | | than the humans' need for clothing and protection, to |
| that the Romans eventually got the wind of using it | | | | social acceptance based on the prevailing norms of |
| - Leather shoes are for those who can afford them. | | | | the Middle Ages. Though not restricted in terms of |
| Before 1300 AD, shoes had square toes. Later, fashion | | | | design and creativity, people dressed according to their |
| got fancy that shoes had pointed or hooked toes. | | | | social class because of the affordability of medieval |
| For the women, the following were the medieval | | | | clothing. |
| costumes: | | | | |