Men's medieval clothing

Men's clothing in the Middle Ages

Men's fashion in the Middle Ages was strongly influenced by the respective social position and function of the man. From peasants to noblemen and clergymen, clothing differed significantly in terms of material, cut and decoration.

Typical components of men's medieval clothing:

Undergarment

The shirt (camisia in Latin) was the basic piece of men's clothing. It usually reached down to the thighs and could be made of linen or cotton. The sleeves were often wide and loosely cut.

Outer garment

A skirt (tunica) was worn over this, which reached from ankle to knee. The sleeves could be tight or wide. For nobles and the wealthy, more elaborate tunics with embroidery, borders or fur trimmings were common.

Coats and cloaks

Depending on the weather and the occasion, different types of cloaks were worn. Simple woollen coats (cappa) served as protection, while magnificent cloaks (pallium) with brocade patterns and fur trimmings emphasized high social status.

Headgear

Hats, caps and hoods were important accessories. They ranged from simple linen caps to feather-adorned berets. Clergymen wore special headgear such as mitres or biretta.

Legwear

Pants (braccae) were usually tight-fitting and reached down to the ankles. Knights and nobles also wore stockings or leg warmers to cover their legs.

Shoes

Depending on their status and profession, men wore pointed toe shoes.