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Clothes
John and Cynthia are members of a group that research and re-create (with
varying degrees of accuracy) the Middle Ages. As most of their friends
are also in this group, and they all like the costumes, wearing of costumes
is encouraged for the wedding. If you choose to wear "normal" festive clothes,
that's ok, too.
The bride and groom will be wearing houppelandes, a flowing garment,
often with long, fancy sleeves. Women's houppelandes usually were long
and dragged on the ground; men's were toe-length or shorter (up to mid-thigh!)
often with slit sides and center front and back. Edges of the sleeves,
and men's hems, were often cut or sewn in interesting shapes, called "dags."
Women's belts were worn just under the breast, and men's were worn at
the waist or hips. Both sexes sometimes wore "folly bells," a baldric with
bells along one edge. Both also wore some sort of hat; for men, it was
usually a rolled-up hood with dags, or a rounded fez-type hat. Women's
hats were similar, but often more extreme. The donut-shaped stuffed roll
is the simplest version for women. All types of hat would often have a
round central ornamental pin.
Follow these links to get some ideas -- they contain pictures from this
time period to get you started.
Cynthia has taught several classes on clothing of this time period. If
you have interest in any of the following handouts from her classes, please
drop us a note and we'll send it along!
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Hoods
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Women's Rolled & Stuffed Hats
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Easy Men's Hats
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Simple Garb
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Braiding
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Pointed shoes
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