Clothing
People in various social levels wore various types of clothing. However, most clothes were made from either wool, animal skins, or flax. Clothing revealed status. The wealthy were allowed to dress in fashionable clothing, but the poor were restricted in what they could wear. Each country had its own style of dressing but was unique in its own way. Here are some types of clothes that people wore in the Middle Ages:
Peasants and Serfs:
The lowest class of the social pyramid wore very plain clothes. Peasants wore tunics made from wool and pants called breeches with long stockings. Women wore longer tunics with a hood and a veil. Over this they had a sleeveless cape called a surcoat.
Nobility
Rich people wore clothes made of silk, damask, and velvet and other expensive materials. They wore waistcoats, breeches, hats, stockings, trunk hoses, and jewels. Gold and silver pearls were made into necklaces and bracelets. Over this attire they wore either a robe or cloak. The rich also may have worn a surcoat. Rich women wore gowns, fur surcoats, expensive belts, an long pointed shoes.
Monks and Nuns
Monks and nuns are religious men and women who devoted their life to Christianity. Nuns wore a veil and scapula over the tunic and crosses around their neck. Monks wore similar clothing as they also wore tunics wrapped around their robe and a hood. They also wore crosses.
Knights
Knights wore armor made from chain mail, series of garments, and an iron plate. Under their clothes were linen undershirt and underpants. They were important since they protected a knight’s skin. Woolen stockings were worn to cover their legs. Their first layer of armor was a padded garment consisting of a quilted coat sewn or stuffed with linen or grass. This was known by many names such as it was known by many names including aketon, arming coat, doubleton, gambeson, and hacketon. Like the other social classes, knights wore a surcoat emblazoned with the coat of arms or sword of the knight for identification purposes.
Peasants and Serfs:
The lowest class of the social pyramid wore very plain clothes. Peasants wore tunics made from wool and pants called breeches with long stockings. Women wore longer tunics with a hood and a veil. Over this they had a sleeveless cape called a surcoat.
Nobility
Rich people wore clothes made of silk, damask, and velvet and other expensive materials. They wore waistcoats, breeches, hats, stockings, trunk hoses, and jewels. Gold and silver pearls were made into necklaces and bracelets. Over this attire they wore either a robe or cloak. The rich also may have worn a surcoat. Rich women wore gowns, fur surcoats, expensive belts, an long pointed shoes.
Monks and Nuns
Monks and nuns are religious men and women who devoted their life to Christianity. Nuns wore a veil and scapula over the tunic and crosses around their neck. Monks wore similar clothing as they also wore tunics wrapped around their robe and a hood. They also wore crosses.
Knights
Knights wore armor made from chain mail, series of garments, and an iron plate. Under their clothes were linen undershirt and underpants. They were important since they protected a knight’s skin. Woolen stockings were worn to cover their legs. Their first layer of armor was a padded garment consisting of a quilted coat sewn or stuffed with linen or grass. This was known by many names such as it was known by many names including aketon, arming coat, doubleton, gambeson, and hacketon. Like the other social classes, knights wore a surcoat emblazoned with the coat of arms or sword of the knight for identification purposes.