Women's Fashions in the First Half of the 14th Century ~ Part Two by Rosemary Morris

 

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Women’s Fashion in the First Half of the 14^th Century

Part Two

 

In my novels Yvonne, Lady of Cassio, Volume One of The Lovages of Cassio, and in Grace, Lady of Cassio, Volume Two, which begins in 1331, (to be published in August 2021) I describe the characters’ clothes to help readers visualise the protagonists. As I write, I imagine the contrasts between wealthy ladies’ sumptuous apparel, well-to-do women, and poor people’s clothes.

Stockings

Stockings were supported by garters, strips of wool or linen, often embroidered, above or below the knees. Women who could afford them wore stockings made from either wool or linen. Poor women wore coarse woollen ones which, I imagine, were itchy.

Footwear

Shoes with points at the big toe were cut well and shaped to fit either foot around the ankle. They were fastened with laces on the inner or outer edge. Other shoes were designed like slippers, cut away over the instep and fastened with a strap and buckle around the ankle.

Wealthy women’s footwear was often embellished either with embroidery or charming patterns of squares, dots or flowers punched into the leather.

Short boots for walking, and possibly riding, ended below the calf, and were usually laced on the inner side or, occasionally on the outer.

Hair and Headwear

Women plaited their hair and coiled it around their ears. Their hair was always completely covered in various ways.

A veil and wimple.

A veil held in place by a fillet.

A barbette, a strip of linen passed under the chin and on either side of the face over a hairnet secured by hairpins.

A fret, hairnet, often brightly coloured.

Many pins were required to secure each of these headdresses.

Hoods were always worn by country women, and by other women when travelling and for warmth.

Accessories

Gloves were worn by women of every class. Wealthy ladies wore linen gloves to protect their hands from sunburn.

Aprons did not have bibs and tied around the waist. They were worn by ladies to protect expensive clothes and by working class women. Sometimes a band of embroidery decorated them below the waist.

Jewellery. Made of gold or silver set with precious stones, rings, brooches, buckles etc.

Girdles either plain or ornamented with gold or silver, sometimes set with gemstones, or worn around the hips and buckled or tied in front.

 

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