Men's Medieval Clothing

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Men's Medieval Clothing: Male Fashion from the 5th to the 15th Century Men's medieval clothing spans roughly a thousand years, from the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century to the eve of the Renaissance in the 15th. Across that stretch of time, male dress went from simple practical tunics to some of the most extravagant and body-conscious fashion Europe had ever seen. Throughout it all, what a man wore told the world exactly who he was. The Early Middle Ages (5th to 10th Century): Practicality Above All The Tunic as the Foundation The tunic was the universal male garment of the early medieval period, worn by kings and peasants alike. Knee-length, belted at the waist, and made from wool or linen depending on the season, it was layered over a linen shirt that served as the base layer. What separated a nobleman's tunic from a peasant's was not the cut but the cloth: finer weaves, richer dyes, and embroidery at the collar, cuffs, and hem for those who could afford it. Trousers, Hose, and Leg Coverings Beneath the tunic, men wore long trousers or leg wrappings bound with cross-gartering, strips of cloth wound around the lower leg and tied in place. Early forms of hose began appearing toward the end of this period, fitted more closely to the leg than the looser wrappings they gradually replaced. Fabric, Color, and Social Rank Wool and linen dominated across all classes. Color was one of the clearest markers of status: rich, saturated dyes were expensive and therefore associated with the wealthy, while undyed or simply dyed cloth was the norm for working men. Germanic and Roman influences blended gradually into a distinctly medieval aesthetic that would evolve significantly over the following centuries. The High Middle Ages (11th to 13th Century): Layering and Regional Variety The Cotte and Surcoat By the 11th century the simple tunic had evolved into the cotte, a more structured outer garment worn over the linen shirt. Over the cotte came the surcoat: a sle