Sims 3 Dark Ages CC

[procrasimnation]

I recently had a WCIF about this mesh - it was a CASP edit of a mesh from MT-Cakestore, whose TOU prohibited including or editing their meshes. It kind of gaped on women because it was made for men, and had artifacts of the igal in CAS (but not in game), but back in the 2010s this was preferable to starting some kind of blood feud with a better creator.

Some of you who were around back then may have noticed the version in my game looked better:

That's because I made a version with the mesh included and edited, and secretly shared the link with anyone who spotted and asked about it.

MT-Cakestore has now been gone for years so I'm going to just upload the thing.

Here: http://www.simfileshare.net/download/4965602/

The undercap was from World Adventures.

HEALTH WARNING: I don't have TS3 installed and can't doublecheck the file, but I have used S3PE to check the thumbnail and this definitely looks right.

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Maxis-Match Medievaloid Miscellany, Part 1: Young Adult and Adult Male Clothing

Item 1: The Al-Andalus Tunic Skirt. A retexture of EA's Large Belted Kilt mesh with editsims' Tara Skirt textures, this tunic is a simple and classic tunic-style bottom. One recolorable channel at 4x4; available for too many categories to list, but it is fully morphed.

Item 2: The Dalriada Tunic Skirt. Another retexture of the EA Large Belted Kilt mesh, this time using PoppySims' pleated skirt textures, this tunic has pleats (or gores) for extra flair. One recolorable channel at 4x4; available for too many categories to list, but it, also, is fully morphed. Works well with lower-slung belt accessories.

Item 3: The Danelaw Tunic and Trousers. This is editsims' Disparate Youth skirt layered over EA's Kung Fu pants; suitable for the more active (or cold) individual. Three recolorable channels at 4x4 tiling. While it's available for quite a few categories, it doesn't have a pregnancy morph.

Item 4: The Byzantium Top. This is EA's World Adventures Chinese Sophisticate top layered over Supernatural's Top With Infinity Scarf. It's a very fancy top, in my opinion. Four recolorable channels at 4x4 tiling; available for Everyday, Formalwear, Career, Makeover, and Maternity to make it more ~exclusive~ than the others.

Download them all here (package file only): http://simfileshare.net/folder/196853/

Credits, in alphabetical order:

@aprilrainsimblr for holding my hand through morphing the Danelaw bottom, as well as providing Alasdair's top | @camoflash004 for the bones and morphs from their TS4 skirt conversion, which I used as a reference | @club-crimsyn for Kiran's hosen | @danjaley for the Bayeux Tapestry, Standing and Talking, and Temple of Aphaia poses | EAXIS for their textures and meshes | editsims / littlecat for their skirt textures and meshes | MograSims for Alasdair's and Bruno's shoes | @nectar-cellar for walking me through Mesh Toolkit about a year ago now; additionally, for Kiran Prasad, who I Maxis Matchified and used as a model | @ninjaofthepurplethings for Karl Melton, who I also Maxis Matchified and used as a model | OneEuroMutt for Alasdair's and Bruno's hosen | PoppySims for their skirt textures | @simlicious for the patterns (your wool fabrics save my life every time) and for providing Bruno's top | @sweetdevil-sims for Kiran's shoes

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Zoste Patrikia: A Middle Byzantine Propoloma Accessory for TYAEF.

It’s a new year, and I’m back on my Byzantine nonsense as a break from the texturing long-haul of the bustle project and to give myself a quick “ooh fancy fancy” project. So have a propoloma as a Tres Reyes/Epiphany/Twelfth Night gift!

What is a Propoloma? 

During the early Byzantine empire, the “propoloma” was a simple turban, as seen on the iconic mosaic of Theodora in Ravenna (1). While most depictions show it on courtiers or saints, because Byzantine art tended to focus on courtiers and saints, it is by no means improbable that a Byzantine woman with enough fabric and time on her hands could give herself a nice turban to wear. It could be worn by itself, if the fabric was nice enough, or worn under a veil. 

By the 10th century, it had somehow transformed into a fascinating trapezoidal/pyramidal cone, usually worn over one’s maforion, or over one’s hair, whether worn loose or styled (2). This ‘new’ propoloma was almost certainly a court headdress or upper-class headdress, if only for reasons of practicality.

The propoloma was usually white, although the zoste patrikia–the Empress’ most high-ranking lady-in-waiting–wore hers with a purple stripe, and ladies of the Imperial family wore theirs in solid purple (1). Because this is the Sims, of course, you can make yours neon pink with zebra stripes if you so desire. 

Although a propoloma of a similar shape and orientation on the head is worn in a Byzantine depiction of David’s entry into Jerusalem, as illustrated in the 1082 Vatican Psalter (3), and in the iconic Venetus A illuminated manuscript of the Illiad, circa 900-1000 (4), I would like to clarify that this is probably not the most historically accurate shape or style! Most reconstructions (e.g. Levantia and Anna’s New Rome) show the propoloma as fitted around the wearer’s head (1, 2). However, it’s extant, it’s documented, and I think it has a certain charm, so I’m sharing this with all of you.

I did not create this mesh; I took it from Bipsouille’s TS2 Star Wars: The Phantom Menace hair. You can see the original here; as you can probably tell, I took off the danglies and the earmuffs, and retextured it so that the propoloma is now fabric-textured instead of hair-textured. I also removed the original overlays and created five masks; the “x” and diagonal stripe are from the eleventh century (1001-1100) and the horizontal stripes and horizontal stripes with bezants are from the twelfth century (1101-1200) (5). I am unsure if the original Star Wars headdress was inspired by Manchu liangbatou headdresses, Russian kokoshniks, or a combination of the two, as I am not familiar with all the varieties of either of those headdresses.

Download your propoloma here!

Important Information

Polycount 86 Vertices, 168 Faces. 

Bone Assignment Head Dome. 

Recolorable? Yes, with one, two, or three channels depending on the mask. The mesh is curved, so some patterns may not “read” successfully.

Ages and Genders Teen through Elder females. You may use NRAAS or another mod to make this available for teen through elder males!

Categories Found in “Earrings” under Everyday, Formal, Career (for courtiers, of course), Makeover, and Maternity.

Custom Thumbnail? No, sorry!

EPs Necessary Base Game Compatible.

Credits

Bipsouille, whose original mesh I’ve hacked to pieces. Merci!

@aprilrainsimblr, whose linen texture I used to retexture the propoloma.

@ninjaofthepurplethings, @ice-creamforbreakfast, @sweetdevil-sims, and @simlicious for the models used (Penny O’Hare, Margaret Crabtree-Spencer, Helen Ray, and Aurora Brunetti). 

@danjaley for the poses (Medieval Story).

Mammut from the SimsZoo for the outfits (EF, TF, and AF Mittelalter).

@carversims and @procrasimnation for the veils (Carver’s Scarf Casual and one of the Aanhamdan conversions; Procrasimnation’s Sporty Hijab and LumiaLover’s Hijab).

Parsimonious for the patterns.

Recommended Downloads

My conversion of Wawa’s Byzantine crown (unisex)

My conversion of Wiccandove’s veil (female only)

Citations

(1) Syrakousina, A. D. (2015, January 16). The propoloma: A headdress of the ZOSTE patrikia and other high ranking women in the courts of Eastern Rome. Anna’s New Rome. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from https://annasrome.com/2014/08/13/the-propoloma-a-headdress-of-the-zoste-patrikia-and-other-high-ranking-women-in-the-courts-of-eastern-rome/ 

(2) Dawson, T. (n.d.). A woman of the high aristocracy. Levantia. Retrieved January 2, 2023, from https://www.levantia.com.au/zoste.html. 

(3) Meyer, M. “DID THE DAUGHTERS OF ISRAEL COME OUT DANCING AND SINGING TO MEET… DAVID ? A BIBLICAL IMAGE IN CHRISTIAN-MACEDONIAN IMPERIAL ATTIRE.” Byzantion 73, no. 2 (2003): 467–87. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44172607.

(4) Manuscript miniatures: Iliad (venetus A). (n.d.). Retrieved January 2, 2023, from https://manuscriptminiatures.com/4919/14628. 

(5) “Byzantine Clothing Inspiration Page.” House Capuchin 3, September 24, 2021. https://housecapuchin.com/clothing-inspirations/byzantine-clothing-inspiration-page/. 

[danjaley]

Monk's Habit by Magic - Fixed

This was an old file I found in my archives while answering a wcif. I think I downloaded it from the old site of Blacky's Simszoo, and Magic was the name given in the TSRW project data.

It was originally cloned from the Mad Scientist labcoat, which has a collar and gloves. I replaced those with actual body-meshes. I also tweaked the mapping to make the belt-rope meet at the sides and I put a pullover-multiplier over the upper body, to give it some more structure. As a result the UV is slightly distorted, so it's best used with simple monochrome patterns like this one.

Under the robe there are the original's trouser-legs in the same pattern.

Download: SimFileshare | Dropbox

[ofchevalry]

Bright are the stars that shine Dark is the sky I know this love of mine Will never die And I love her

(The Beatles)

Byzantine crown by @windermeresimblr

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Happy Easter!

Instead of jelly beans, you get skirts for adult and young adult males!

These aren’t my meshes or textures; the texture is by fuglsang (x) and the mesh is by a creator who’s long since vanished from the web (x). 

I simply got tired of looking at my historical sims running around in clothes inspired by Pyramidhead, and did some surgery.

I’ve styled these in a more historicizing fashion, but these would be excellent for modern-day sarongs, lungi, or izaar, as well as for your AMAB sims who simply like to wear skirts!

The skirt comes in 2 recolorable channels, with one preset, and is available for thin, fat, and fit YA and A sims in the everyday, formal, athletic, martial arts, career, outerwear, and random categories. 

I’m not sure if it would work for maternity, so I have not enabled it for maternity. It should be base-game compatible!

Please do convert these for teens or elders, or even for children, add more morphs, make it shorter or longer or give it tassels on the hem, etc., etc.! 

Just remember it’s barely mine in the first place and don’t be the jerk who puts it behind a paywall. 

Do note that the skirts have the same animation and texture stretching flaws that all long skirts do in-game. I’m not sure if there’s a way to counteract this. 

Additionally, puffier tucked-in tops, such as the Supernatural cowl-neck top, will get part of the waistband textures. If you want the top to match the skirt precisely (as if the Sim is wearing a supertunic), this is not bad; if you want them to contrast, mea culpa! If I learn of a way to fix this, I will release an update.

Download it here.

Credits

Patterns by @aroundthesims , all-about-style, and @simlicious

Model 1 is my own Alasdair McCarrick, wearing @heavensims ‘ armor from The English Are Bastards and the deep V shirt from Island Paradise.

Model 2 is @pancakebobs’ Cody Zhao, wearing @simtanico’s Starburst shirt and the tucked-in standing collar shirt from World Adventures

Model 3 is @ninjaofthepurplethings’ base sim, wearing @simlicious’s tucked-in round-neck shirt and the cowl-neck shirt from Supernatural

Poses are by @studiok2sims, chosen to play as nicely with the long skirts as possible!

[nilxis]

I took a tiny break from Uranesia and I came up with this little church, inspired by the romanesque architecture of the Pyrenees. My main inspiration was Sant Climent de Taüll, in Vall de Boí, and its famous frescoes. 

I think I will upload it :)

[nilxis]

It took a while but I finally uploaded it!

You can download it on Modthesims: CLICK HERE

Enjoy :)

[darkagessims3cc]

Have I reblogged this? It’s a beautiful lot with a lot of potential for Early Medieval scenes. Need to have your Vikings raid Lindisfarne? Your Merovingian sims plot murder? Send them here!

[danjaley]

TSM Female Nightgowns

Someone asked about this last year, and also I had a story-scene in mind. The male version is here. These two are currently not available for teen and elder. These being medieval and from TSM, they have a slight potato-sack feeling to them and I suspect it will increase on teens.

They’re feet- and shoe compatible, and enabled for pregnancy. Not Vaild for Random by default, but you can easily enable this yourself.

Download: SimFileshare | Dropbox

[chazybazzy]

Nightcrawler MHair 4

Child-Elder Male and Female

Custom Thumbs

Credits

Sjoko/Plumb-bombs female conversion

Model credit: Blonde model, Helena Harper, by zowaaaay

Download                Mirror

[windermeresimblr]

A mostly historically-accurate Iron Age roundhouse to live in or visit.

I’m very pleased and proud to announce that my Iron Age Roundhouse is available for download at ModTheSims! 

It’s fully furnished and largely historically accurate, given the limitations of TS3 build mode. 

Please let me know if you use it!

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Perfectly Coiffed: Cynnix’s TS2 Coif Hair Converted to TS3

As a thank-you to the hundred people who follow me (you like me! you really like me!), please have some coifs for your historical or fantasy Sims (or perhaps modern Sims?) to wear as accessories. 

Coifs were worn from the medieval period to (for toddlers and infants, with some exceptions) the present. While they were used to help modestly cover the hair, their main purpose in life was to keep hair oils from getting on hats and bedsheets. Medieval hygiene wasn’t quite AS bad as the Dung Ages trope indicates, but hair was washed once a week at most, unless you fell head-first into the duck pond or otherwise had to get an enormous amount of filth out of your hair. There would be quite a bit of oil build-up in between, so keeping it out of your fancy, unwashable hat, or your difficult-to-launder bedsheets, with a coif was very practical. 

Male coifs went out of fashion in the later medieval period, although their practicality meant they were worn by the working class for longer. Women’s coifs held on until the later Renaissance, before being superseded by the mob cap and other headgear. More traditional plain-dressing religious denominations, as well as some Catholic nuns, continue to sport the coif. (Plain-dressers wear the coif on the outside; nuns wear it under the wimple.) And, of course, babies and toddlers regularly have their ears pinned to their heads with them.

There’s no clipping with fat morphs (which is why it’s a little big for less full-faced sims), and there shouldn’t be any trouble with breast morphs. (Please let me know if there are! They hover just above the bustline in Milkshape, so I thought it should be okay.)  Because it’s rather tight to the back of the head, you’ll want to go for low-positioned buns or braids, or close-to-the-head short hair, to wear beneath it. 

They come in two presets: EAXIS fabric and EAXIS leather. Additionally, they’re hat-slider compatible, so you can adjust to fit hairs or narrower heads as desired. Bonus: They’re RECOLORABLE. (One channel only, but it’s a coif. They’re tiny bits of fabric, not some elaborate fontange or cavalier hat.) 

I converted these from Cynnix’s TS2 coif hairs on MTS. My work was merely making them an accessory and adjusting them to fit TS3 proportions. The mesh and textures are all Cynnix’s! Therefore, please follow Cynnix’s TOU: don’t pass these off as your own, no pay sites, etc. 

Grab them here! (Thoroughly BGC. The child version is unisex, and there are separate male and female teen-elder versions. Everything’s found in the earrings section.)

Credits

Models by @ice-creamforbreakfast

Bhavan Singh, Kim Da-Eun, Frederick Liu, Margaret Crabtree-Spencer, Selina Kaur, and Weera Sivaraksa

Poses by @danjaley and @studiok2sims

Male clothing by @danjaley, @kentconverts, and EA

Female clothing by @danjaley, @kentconverts, Dark Night, Agapi R, and E.A.

Cynnix for the mesh and textures!

Extra Bonus

The Ambitions “Dark Age Lady” turret hat and barbette, which I long ago de-hairified and made into an accessory, is also included in this download, as well as an equally ancient conversion of Snake Leg’s Victorian/Lolita bonnet as an accessory. Both are for teen-elder Sims and are hat-slider compatible. The bonnet can be found in the armband section; the turret hat and barbette are found in earrings. 

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Medieval Paper Dolls: Let’s Go A-Viking

So, this week we’re taking a detour to Kattegat, or wherever your preferred Viking fiction locale is. While the Vikings technically aren’t medieval, they were active in the early medieval period. Also, those apron dresses. There’s also not a great deal of meshes that can work very well as Viking clothing, so the looks this week are a bit limited, stylistically. So, we have our “before” picture, with Alun and Joyeuse still dressed in very fashionable early medieval clothes. Nothing that couldn’t be worn in Viking-controlled areas–perhaps York?–but still nothing that screams “viking.”

Menswear in the Viking period wasn’t that drastically different from menswear in France or Italy or England. Their only real change was that their hosen were actually trousers, because Scandinavia was not a very warm climate. (They were often wrapped closer to the legs with strips of fabric or leather ties in order to keep warmer.) Additionally, all possible waterproofing precautions were taken–cuffs were either wrapped or sewn shut to avoid snow getting in, for example. So poor Alun doesn’t look that much different in his first picture. 

Where the Vikings really stand out are hats and hoods. Again, Scandinavia is very cold and it is a truth universally acknowledged that if you don’t wear a hat when it’s cold outside, you get very cold, very quickly. So numerous hats and caps and hoods have been found, with something to suit every Viking’s taste. Skullcaps, hoods, and hats very similar to Santa Claus’s have all been attested to. I put Alun in outerwear for this look; the trimming on the poncho he’s wearing is supposed to mimic the rather shaggy homespun cloak some Vikings wore. (@simlicious has the best patterns for shaggy, shaggy fleece.)

And because it wouldn’t be Viking without swords and shields somewhere in the mix, here’s Alun ready to charge off a longboat and cause havoc. No, he’s not wearing a helmet; it’s uncertain how many Vikings wore any sort of head protection at all in battle. Watch your head, please, Alun.

Women in the Viking period wore a simple tunic over their shifts, like most women throughout the early medieval world, but it’s what they wore over the tunics that’s interesting. The hangerock, or apron dress, was either a sideless ‘jumper’ or ‘pinafore’ type garment or an actual strapped overdress. It was pinned at the shoulder with brooches. The style is rather similar to the traditional Russian sarafan. (There’s also evidence that a third style, which was a length of fabric wrapped around your back and sides but left open at the front, was worn with a modesty/warmth panel pinned over it to allow for nursing. It’s certainly more practical than having to unpin your whole dress when the baby’s hungry.)

Vikings loved beads and ornaments of all kinds, and women frequently decorated the fronts of their apron dresses by stringing beads and trinkets between their shoulder brooches. Of course, the Sims doesn’t allow for this, so Joyeuse has to stick with “only” wearing a necklace. But they wore necklaces, too, so she can’t be that put out.

Because it’s rather chilly in Scandinavia–do I really need to repeat myself with this?–lots and lots of overlayers were worn. Shawls were very common, especially among the higher-status women. While I’ve opted to put Joyeuse in a triangular-fold shawl, you could also use a more classic blanket-style shawl. Anything that covers the shoulders but gives your Sim some freedom of mobility should work. 

Viking women also wore headscarves or head coverings, just as their non-Viking counterparts. However, there’s not a lot of evidence for what kind; there’s a suggestion that the majority of the hair was covered, at least for married women. Once again, marital and social status is determined not only by the cut and quality of your garments, but also what you’re wearing on your head.

Of course, there was always the option to wear a really kick-ass cape if you were cold or a shawl just wasn’t enough for the occasion. There was also an option for a frontless coat that could trail on the ground behind you; mesh issues unfortunately did not let me demonstrate that look for you today. (I did change Joyeuse’s head covering for this picture, just because I saw this hair on Ifca’s blog and immediately thought “VIKING!” without much regard to whether it was historically accurate or not. I just love that kerchief so.)

(And did you really think I’d leave you without a shield-maiden battle couple picture?)

Now, go do some more shopping! 

Alun

Tunic 2 by @murfeelee

Boots 1 by @murfeelee (Off Duty)

Boots 2 by EAXIS (Movie Stuff Pack)

Hat  by Venus Princess (Doom Acc. 1)

Hair 1 by Ifca

Hair 2 by Ifca

Sword and shield by Severinka

Alun’s short cape, belted tunic, hosen, and “tunic sleeves” can be found in part two of this series.

Joyeuse

“Hangerock” 1 by DarkNighTt

“Hangerock” 2 by NataliS

Shawl by Ersch Sims (the long one, nos. 3 and 4 in the pictures)

“Treasure Necklace” 1 by @murfeelee

“Treasure Necklace” 2 by LeahLillith

Kerchief Hair by @danjaley (the Nurse kerchief)

Headscarf Hair by Ifca

Joyeuse’s “kirtle,” shoes, and cape can be found in part two of this series.

Poses

I went for a more dynamic look this week, courtesy of @danjaley​‘s conversation poses. I got a little tired of them looking unhappy.

@studiok2sims made the pose Alun is using in the weapons picture; super talented as always! You can find similar sword-wielding poses in the Swordplay posepack.

Joyeuse is using a pose by Paranoia or Drunkard in HER weapons picture. (Pose no. 26 from the big medieval posepack, to be precise.)

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Medieval Paper Dolls: Early Medieval Period

Welcome back! Last week, we left Alun and Joyeuse in their underwear.  Now, we’re taking a trip just slightly further back in time…to the early medieval period. (Although these outfits could work for very, very late and provincial Antiquity, and for less fashion-forward people in the High Middle Ages or perhaps Byzantium, but we’ll get to that in some future update…)

Between the fall of the Western Roman Empire and 1000, the common garment throughout Europe, transcending gender, social class, and even cleric versus laity, was a tunic. The tunic was a holdover from the Roman period, and its knee length made it a popular choice for those who worked in the fields or otherwise needed freedom of movement. Boots were the most common footwear, although simple flat shoes–also known as turnshoes–were equally common. 

Wealthier (or simply less active and higher-status) men tended to wear longer tunics, and their hemlines could be from mid-calf to the floor. I paired turnshoes with Alun’s long tunic because I felt it looked nicer than the boots did; boots could be, and were, worn with long tunics. Especially if the weather called for it; after all, the “Dark Ages” didn’t have very many functioning hypocausts. 

No matter the social class, a man’s outfit was topped with a cape. The fabric and lining, as well as the presence and quality of fur, depended on the social class and funds of the wearer, the context the cape was worn in, and (of course) the weather. Shorter capes were worn by those who needed freedom of movement or who couldn’t afford a good long cape. Regional styles of how capes were worn existed; for example, the Franks preferred long capes if at all possible.

Longer capes were worn for extra warmth, or to display the amount of money one could afford to spend on a cape. Especially if it’s made of costly fabric, or lined with fur. 

Women’s tunics were at the very minimum ankle-length; working women needed to avoid tangling their skirts in the plow, after all. Long sleeves were very popular, although sleeve fullness was dependent on social class. After all, Goody Joyeuse needs to be able to wash the dishes without ruining her clothes, while Lady Joyeuse doesn’t do anything more straining than embroidery.

Noble women were able to wear much more impractical tunics, although floor-puddling skirts were reserved for the very wealthy. As with the male half, quantity and quality of fabric and richness of dye were what separated the ladies from the commoners. Applied trims could also differentiate between Lady Joyeuse, Duchess Joyeuse, and Goody Joyeuse; however, these were usually tablet-woven bands. Lace hadn’t come into its own as a garment trim just yet.

In certain areas, a “coat dress” was worn over the tunic; this seemed to be most popular in Frankish territories, among the Alemanni and Bavarii, and (surprisingly enough) in East Kent. The brooches’ quality depended on the status of the wearer, of course. (A side note–tunics throughout the medieval world, like the chemises beneath them, had keyhole necklines for ease of nursing; these were closed with either drawstrings, brooches, or pins.)

Of course, adult women were expected, if not required, to cover their hair in order to be considered modest. This is where wimples began to emerge, although they weren’t as fancy as they became later in the medieval period. Instead, they were often depicted as one or more pieces of fabric simply wrapped and pinned around the wearer’s head and neck, rather similar to a hijab.

Other options included kerchiefs, headwraps, and caps. The amount of hair covered, and the rules for which women wore what sort of headcovering and when, varied from location to location. 

When in doubt, pin your hair up and throw on a simple veil, and hope the Sims from the SCA aren’t looking too closely at your choice in headgear. (Or Goody Crumplebottom.)

Now, go do some shopping! 

Alun’s “Tunic” Top: @danjaley

Alun’s “Tunic” Bottom: The Sims 3 Store

Alun’s Boots: @shokoninio​

Alun’s Short Cape: Happy Life Sims

Alun’s Long Tunic: @danjaley, although I edited it to be everyday wear.

Alun’s Long Cape: Astraea Nevermore

Alun is wearing the University Life “Toms” shoes beneath his long robe. 

Joyeuse’s Tunic: The Merrye Makers

Joyeuse’s Second Tunic: Taurona

Joyeuse’s Coat Dress: The Sims 3 Store, but I use this maternity edit.

Joyeuse’s “Under-Tunic”: Daluved1

Joyeuse’s First Wimple: @procrasimnation

Joyeuse’s Second Wimple: @carversims

Joyeuse’s Veil: Venus Princess

Joyeuse is wearing the University Life “Toms” shoes for all of her outfits.

Pose from @danjaley​‘s “Arranged Wedding” set.

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Medieval Paper Dolls: Underpinnings

It’s Friday (for another hour or so) and I felt like doing something fun, so have (what I hope!) is the beginning of a little once-a-week paper doll game. I decided to start with underwear, because that’s the first thing you put on when you get dressed. (Unless you’re Superman.)

Here are our models, Alun and Joyeuse. They’ve kindly volunteered to show us how they get dressed.

Alun’s first steps are to put on a pair of braies and hosen. Depending on when in the medieval period he’s getting dressed, as well as his social status, he has two options for his braies: long (to the knee) or short (to the thigh). No matter which pair of braies he chooses, he will attach his hosen to them. 

Hosen were not usually knitted at this point in time. Instead, they were cut and sewn together from fabric; as elastic hadn’t been invented yet, they had to be tied to one’s braies so that they weren’t falling down around one’s ankles. They were also one per leg, allowing for parti-colored looks. 

Joyeuse also gets to put on her braies and hosen first. Whether medieval women wore braies for more than perhaps one week a month (or for a period of time after childbirth) is debatable; they seem to have been small throughout the medieval period.  Her hosen, as you can see, are much shorter; because women tended to wear full-length dresses throughout the medieval period, they didn’t need to have their hosen cover all of their legs. She gets to tie hers up at the knee.

Of course, there were bras even in the medieval period. The simplest and oldest option was to bind one’s breasts. By the 1300′s, “shirts with bags”  or “tuttensacks” had emerged, and archaeological evidence suggests that they were rather similar in shape to the 1950′s long-line bra. Of course, they didn’t have whalebone or steel to mold the torso as they desired; instead, they used seams. 

Once you’d gotten your braies and hosen on, and contained your bosom as needed, you weren’t finished. Because laundry, in any period before the advent of the home washing machine, was a labor-intensive and very prolonged process, the goal was to go as long as possible between washings. Therefore, there was a second layer between your body and your clothing, to keep it from being stained by sweat or other bodily fluids: the chemise or shirt. 

Men’s shirts were usually knee-length. However, by the later medieval period, the fashionable man’s shirt had become rather short in order to fit under the ever-shorter doublets. 

Women’s chemises remained knee-length throughout the period. The necklines varied according to what was in style, but a modest scoop neck was fairly popular. A slit or a placket was needed in order for nursing, although some artistic evidence has been found for having slits at breast height that were pinned shut and opened as needed. (Ouch!)

Now that you’ve sat through all my rambling, here’s some links so you can go on a shopping spree for your medieval or fantasy sims!

Alun’s Short Shirt: Heaven

Alun’s Long Shirt: LadyAtir

Alun’s Short Braies: The Merrye Makers

Alun’s Long Braies: @murfeelee​

Alun’s Solid Hosen: @aikea-guinea​

Alun’s Parti-Color Hosen: @oneeuromutt​ 

Joyeuse’s Chemise: @myskyring

Joyeuse’s Tuttensack: @greenplumbboblover

Joyeuse’s Bindings: @greenplumbboblover

Joyeuse’s Braies: University Life

Joyeuse’s Hosen: @oneeuromutt​​

Fig Leaf Outfit: @packagedblyss​

On Display Poses: @studiok2sims​

Arranged Wedding Poses: @danjaley​ 

My models, Alun and Joyeuse Fitzgeorge, are two Sims from the game’s CAS models, with quite a bit of editing. (Readers of @treason-and-plot​‘s “5 Years Later” might notice a certain resemblance between Alun and Anita’s coworker George! And Joyeuse is that very nice lady from the CAS models with the auburn box braids and the trenchcoat.) 

I also cribbed considerably from the Arnolfini Portrait. (And yes, I did change the furniture and lighting partway through. I’m not an artist. I just like fashion shows.)

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Dragon Age 2 Conversion Isabela Accessory Set I guess this is my late follower gift, a set with Isabela’s accessories. Included are Isabela’s Headpiece,her piercing, and her earrings. Every file is...

This is a very nice-looking accessory headscarf that I think I may start using again.

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Useful for kitchen clutter (grind those spices!), wizards and witches and midwives and healers (make those potions!), dyers and fullers (mix that woad!), etc.

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No one likes chlorine in their hair. Be chlorine free and still look cute.

Until I learn how to make this one toddler coif hat available for adults, I’m using this for coifs.