Women’s Renaissance Clothing

During the Medieval Period, clothing was mainly made from Linen, a cloth made from the Flax plant. The Renaissance Period (Around 1500-1600 A.D.) saw a change in the materials that clothes were made from. Clothing was not only made from linen, but velvet, brocades and silk. Cotton also became available, but it was sstill very expensive because it had to be grown in India.

Fashion during the Renaissance played a large part in social life. The goal was to make as big of a distinction between peasants and gentry as possible. Because of this, styles for the wealthy were constantly changing, while peasant clothing stayed simple.

Peasant clothing mainly consisted of a Chemise( a large and flowy shirt),

 

Peasant Doll Dress

 a laced-up Bodice (or a vest), a long Skirt, and perhaps a Girdle (a cloth or rope belt). Because the nobility wanted a stark contrast between the rich and the poor, during the Renaissance, a law was passed. It decreed that peasants could only wear one color. Naturally, the common people did not like that law, so they wore a thin dress over a brighter one. They would then cut holes in the skirt and sleeves to let the bright color show through. Surprisingly, this style became very popular among the rich. Soon, everyone was slashing their clothing to let many colors show through!

Clothing for the rich was very important. If someone was not dressed in style, they would be looked down upon or ignored. Unfortunately, fashions for the rich changed almost every month! People were always changing their clothes, hair and kind of jewelry! During the reign of Henry VIII, fur lining on the sleeves were very popular. Of course, they also made clothing much heavier and more expensive!

Layers of clothing for the Nobility went from three pieces, such as a chemise, bloomers and a dress, to five pieces. First a lady would start with a Chemise. She would then put on her knit Stockings and tie them on with Garters. Next comes her Corset and a Spanish Farthingale, a cone-shaped hoopskirt. Then a Bumroll might be tied around the hips to help her skirt spring out. After that comes a Petticoat and a Kirtle, a kind of under-dress. Next is a Shirt or a Parlet, a collar made from lace. Finally, comes the Dress, then a Ruff. Then comes Shoes, a large Hairpiece, and a Cloak if the weather is cold.

Nobility Doll Dress

I think that it was much easier to wear peasant garb!

Medieval Clothing

 

Peasant Kirtle

Clothing during the Medieval Period (1300-1400) was really quite simple. Women would wear a pair of bloomers, or Braies. Over the braies, they would wear a long, loose-fitting shirt, or a Chemise. Over the chemise, a long dress, called a Kirtle was worn. The kirtle had no waistline, and long tapered sleeves that were tight at the wrist.

Have you ever seen Eowyn’s dresses in Lord of the Rings? Well, the kirtle was similar to some of her outfits.

What about the  excessively long, flowy sleeves? Most peasants could not afford the cloth to make these sleeves, so only the Gentry could afford them.

Gentry Doll Dress

What was clothing made from?

Most clothes today are made from Cotton, but back in Medieval times they were made from Linen. Until Eli Whitney invented the Cotton Gin in the 1840’s, cotton was too difficult to grow and spin, so the Medieval people used a plant called Flax to make linen for their clothes. 

Making linen was a very long and difficult process. First, the flax had to be grown in a very damp place. Then, the flax must be pulled through a long metal comb to remove the leaves and seeds. Then, the flax is immersed in water for 12 days to allow it to rot. Then the flax must be air-dried in a cool place for several months! After it is dry, the flax must be beaten and then combed again. The flax is now ready to be spun into thread, woven into cloth with a loom, and then cut and sewn into a shirt! The entire process takes about one year or more, just for one shirt!

It’s really not surprising that nice clothing was hard to come by!

As always, feel free to leave a comment or ask questions!

You can check out the great selection of Medieval doll clothing at http://yoreclothes.com/1400home.html!