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.)