Medieval clothing depended largely on the social and economic status of the wearer. Poorer individuals often were forced to dress in the equivalent of nothing more than rags. A peasant in the medieval age, or worse yet the Dark Ages, often had to make do with just a few sparse robes or tunics. Wool was the most common material of the day, with scratchy undergarments the order of the day. Washing clothes, and bodies for that matter, was done only rarely. At the upper end of the economic scale, royalty often wore extravagant clothing to show off their status and wealth.
Upper scale medieval clothing was as much about showing off wealth as it was comfort. In fact, much medieval clothing of the royal variety was most likely very uncomfortable. Intended more as a display of wealth, royal medieval clothing commonly featured elaborate styling and extravagant flourishes. Womens medieval clothing, for example, often featured long trains and elaborate jewelry. The mens medieval clothing was often equally elaborate, featuring complex designs of fabric and colors.
If you have seen any of the modern reproductions of medieval clothing, common in movies such as Braveheart, this extravagant display of wealth through clothing is an easily recognizable feature of that time period.
For poorer denizens of the medieval ages, clothing was much more about utility than comfort or style. At the opposite end of the spectrum, people in the royalty of the time focused on style much more than utility or even comfort. Styles changed just as frequently as it does today, or perhaps even more so.
For those looking to reproduce the look of medieval clothing, places like renstore.com are a great place to start. Although focusing primarily on renaissance clothing, renstore.com provides a great deal of medieval clothing as well. The inventory is very large, and the prices are frequently very affordable. 20, 30, 40, and even 50% clearances are commonly seen. This makes medieval clothing relatively affordable, and the reproductions available at renstore.com are fairly extravagant and accurate.
With several styles of all time periods, renstore.com is a one stop shopping experience for medieval clothing. The reproductions available at renstore.com have a focus on authenticity and quality. Combine that with frequent clearances and affordable prices, and renstore.com is a great way to find great medieval clothing.
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