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.
