Medieval noblemen's lives were full of luxury, included their clothing.
In the medieval period, noblemen strove to set themselves apart from the common peasant, going so far as to make laws forbidding peasants from wearing the luxurious fabrics typical in a nobleman's dress. Though styles varied throughout the time period, the elegance of the materials and pleasing look of clothes available to the nobility remained consistent.
Materials
Noblemen demanded the finest and most comfortable materials for their clothing. Typical materials included soft fur lining and trim made from otter, miniver and cat, as well as a heavy cotton material called damask. Linen and silk were also popular fabrics used to make noblemen's clothing.
Color Options
Richly pigmented, bright colors were a sign of wealth in the medieval period, so noblemen adorned themselves in an array of colorful garments to show off their status. Popular colors worn by the nobles included a deep scarlet red made from the secretions of an insect brought from India, as well as greens made from the lichen plant and blue-based colors made from dyewood.
Garment Styles
Men of the noble class wore a variety of garments with changing styles throughout the medieval period. Typical garb included a tunic and long jacket that were embellished with pleats or skirting. Later styles left the tunic to the lower classes and had noblemen in trousers and chemises.
Shoes
At one time during the medieval period it was the fashion for noblemen to wear shoes with long points in the front, so long that often the point had to be tied around the man's ankle to facilitate walking. Indoor shoes were made of soft luxurious fabrics such as velvet and then covered with outdoor shoes made of wood or leather for wear outside of the castle.
Accessories
Accessories for noblemen included long capes that were worn over clothing, broaches to fasten the cape at the shoulders, girdles of silk and similar fabrics tied around tunics, pointed cap-like hats and buckles that fastened shoes.
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