High Middle Ages ca. 1100-1300

The High Middle Ages usually designate the time from the 11th to the 13th centuries. Most notably, compared to the Early Middle Ages, during the the High Middle Ages the garments of the nobility had become far more conspicuous, more colorful, and form-fitting.

According to contemporary research, the most common clothing item was the “cote,” a rather simple garment worn by rich and poor, men and women alike. However, the cote’s shape and color varied, depending upon the wearer’s gender and stratum.

The garments of the poor in the High Middle Ages

The simple shape of the cote was quite popular with the lower strata and it was frequently worn by the poor. So, for instance, the Landsässische Tracht (garb worn by Landsassen; Middle High German for ’farm workers’), usually consisted of an undershirt and breeches (a kind of medieval briefs) as undergarments under a belted cote and chauces, usually with a coif (‘Bundhaube’) as headwear, topped off with a hat or a hood. Farmers and simple peasants usually wore clothes made from wool or linen, as these materials were easy to produce and inexpensive to obtain.

Clothing of the nobility in the High Middle Ages

Because clothing in the High Middle Ages was also considered a symbol of status and the nobility fancied showing off their prosperity, obtaining the most exquisite fabrics quickly became quite a sumptuous affair. Although the pattern of the cote worn by the nobility resembled that of the peasants, the garment was hardly suitable for practical labor. Noble men usually wore cotes with varying lengths (from the middle of the thighs to the middle of the calves), while women’s dresses were often long enough to draggle on the floor. Additionally the rich attempted to use (and thus show off) as much fabric as possible and therefore pleated it vertically. As a result, the motif of the pleated garment was quite popular in the visual arts of that time.

Dyed fabrics were, due to the rarity of dyes, quite expensive, which is why the colorful garb of the nobility stood out from the untreated farbics worn by the lower strata.

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  • Big Brooch Adil

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    Traditional Viking Brooch often worn by women. Learn More
    $14.90

  • Bonnet Dagmar - Black / Natural

    The Dagmar Bonnet is made of 100% cotton with a long brim which drapes at the front below the base of the hood. It’s the perfect addition for an authentic medieval costume.

    The hood was an almost indispensable piece of clothing; it not only protected the wearer's hair from dirt and weather during work but also signified a woman's status. In the Middle Ages, only unmarried women were allowed to wear their hair uncovered. A married woman without headgear was considered a ""loose woman."" Hoods in many colors and shapes are an integral part of any costume.

    • Bonnet length: 50 cm
    • Turn over part width (complete): 20 cm
    • Turn over part width: 5 cm
    • Turn over part length: 88 cm
    • Pleat size: 1 cm
    • Button hole (each side): 1
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    $21.99

  • Bonnet Dagmar - Burgundy / Woad Blue

    The Dagmar Bonnet is made of 100% cotton with a long brim which drapes at the front below the base of the hood. It’s the perfect addition for an authentic medieval costume.

    The hood was an almost indispensable piece of clothing; it not only protected the wearer's hair from dirt and weather during work but also signified a woman's status. In the Middle Ages, only unmarried women were allowed to wear their hair uncovered. A married woman without headgear was considered a ""loose woman."" Hoods in many colors and shapes are an integral part of any costume.

    • Bonnet length: 50 cm
    • Turn over part width (complete): 20 cm
    • Turn over part width: 5 cm
    • Turn over part length: 88 cm
    • Pleat size: 1 cm
    • Button hole (each side): 1
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    $21.99

  • Bonnet Dagmar - Natural

    The Dagmar Bonnet is made of 100% cotton with a long brim which drapes at the front below the base of the hood. It’s the perfect addition for an authentic medieval costume.

    The hood was an almost indispensable piece of clothing; it not only protected the wearer's hair from dirt and weather during work but also signified a woman's status. In the Middle Ages, only unmarried women were allowed to wear their hair uncovered. A married woman without headgear was considered a ""loose woman."" Hoods in many colors and shapes are an integral part of any costume.

    • Bonnet length: 50 cm
    • Turn over part width (complete): 20 cm
    • Turn over part width: 5 cm
    • Turn over part length: 88 cm
    • Pleat size: 1 cm
    • Button hole (each side): 1
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    $21.99

  • Bonnet Emma - Burgundy

    The Emma Bonnet is made of 100% cotton with a hemmed visor sewn in at the top, and strings at the base of the hood. It’s the perfect addition for an authentic medieval costume.

    The hood was an almost indispensable piece of clothing; it not only protected the wearer's hair from dirt and weather during work but also signified a woman's status. In the Middle Ages, only unmarried women were allowed to wear their hair uncovered. A married woman without headgear was considered a ""loose woman."" Hoods in many colors and shapes are an integral part of any costume.

    • Bonnet circle length: 32 cm
    • Bonnet length (without visor): 40.3 cm
    • Hem width: 38 cm
    • Pleat size: 2 cm
    • Visor length: 36 cm
    • Visor width: 6 cm
    • Slit length: 7.4 cm
    • String length: 40 cm
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    $22.99

  • Bonnet Emma - Natural

    The Emma Bonnet is made of 100% cotton with a hemmed visor sewn in at the top, and strings at the base of the hood. It’s the perfect addition for an authentic medieval costume.

    The hood was an almost indispensable piece of clothing; it not only protected the wearer's hair from dirt and weather during work but also signified a woman's status. In the Middle Ages, only unmarried women were allowed to wear their hair uncovered. A married woman without headgear was considered a ""loose woman."" Hoods in many colors and shapes are an integral part of any costume.

    • Bonnet circle length: 32 cm
    • Bonnet length (without visor): 40.3 cm
    • Hem width: 38 cm
    • Pleat size: 2 cm
    • Visor length: 36 cm
    • Visor width: 6 cm
    • Slit length: 7.4 cm
    • String length: 40 cm
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    $22.99

  • Bonnet Helga - Black

    The Helga Bonnet is made of 100% cotton with a half-circle round brimmed hood. This garment is easy to wear and is a perfect addition for an authentic medieval costume.

    Popular during the mid 15th century, round hoods were worn by townswomen, senior servants and ladies at home. They not only protected the wearer’s hair from dirt and weather during work, but also signified a woman’s status. In the Middle Ages, only unmarried women were allowed to wear their hair uncovered. A married woman without headgear was considered a ""loose woman."" Hoods in many colors and shapes are an integral part of any costume.

    • Bonnet length: 46 cm
    • Bonnet width: 60 cm
    • Turn over width: 6 cm
    • Turn over length: 54 cm
    • Pleat size: 1 cm
    • Button hole (each side): 1
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    $20.49

  • Bonnet Helga - Burgundy

    The Helga Bonnet is made of 100% cotton with a half-circle round brimmed hood. This garment is easy to wear and is a perfect addition for an authentic medieval costume.

    Popular during the mid 15th century, round hoods were worn by townswomen, senior servants and ladies at home. They not only protected the wearer’s hair from dirt and weather during work, but also signified a woman’s status. In the Middle Ages, only unmarried women were allowed to wear their hair uncovered. A married woman without headgear was considered a ""loose woman."" Hoods in many colors and shapes are an integral part of any costume.

    • Bonnet length: 46 cm
    • Bonnet width: 60 cm
    • Turn over width: 6 cm
    • Turn over length: 54 cm
    • Pleat size: 1 cm
    • Button hole (each side): 1
    Learn More
    $20.49

  • Bonnet Helga - Hemp

    The Helga Bonnet is made of 100% cotton with a half-circle round brimmed hood. This garment is easy to wear and is a perfect addition for an authentic medieval costume.

    Popular during the mid 15th century, round hoods were worn by townswomen, senior servants and ladies at home. They not only protected the wearer’s hair from dirt and weather during work, but also signified a woman’s status. In the Middle Ages, only unmarried women were allowed to wear their hair uncovered. A married woman without headgear was considered a ""loose woman."" Hoods in many colors and shapes are an integral part of any costume.

    • Bonnet length: 46 cm
    • Bonnet width: 60 cm
    • Turn over width: 6 cm
    • Turn over length: 54 cm
    • Pleat size: 1 cm
    • Button hole (each side): 1
    Learn More
    $20.49

  • Bonnet Helga - Natural

    The Helga Bonnet is made of 100% cotton with a half-circle round brimmed hood. This garment is easy to wear and is a perfect addition for an authentic medieval costume.

    Popular during the mid 15th century, round hoods were worn by townswomen, senior servants and ladies at home. They not only protected the wearer’s hair from dirt and weather during work, but also signified a woman’s status. In the Middle Ages, only unmarried women were allowed to wear their hair uncovered. A married woman without headgear was considered a ""loose woman."" Hoods in many colors and shapes are an integral part of any costume.

    • Bonnet length: 46 cm
    • Bonnet width: 60 cm
    • Turn over width: 6 cm
    • Turn over length: 54 cm
    • Pleat size: 1 cm
    • Button hole (each side): 1
    Learn More
    $20.49

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