Men's medieval Shirts & Tunics
Medieval Tunics, Shirts, Surcoats & Tabards for men
In the Middle Ages, clothing played an important role in showing social status and membership of a particular social class. Tunics, shirts and tabards were central components of men's wardrobes.
Medieval tunics
The tunic (Latin: tunica) was the basic overgarment of medieval gentlemen. It usually reached from the shoulders to the knees or thighs. The material, cut and decoration varied depending on the wearer's status and wealth:
Simple peasant and artisan tunics were usually made of woolen fabric or linen and kept relatively simple.
For nobles and the wealthy, tunics became increasingly elaborate. They were made from finer fabrics such as silk or trimmed with velvet and were often decorated with embroidery, braids or fur trimmings.
For special occasions such as festivals or ceremonies, aristocrats wore splendid ceremonial garments with rich decorations.
Medieval Shirts
The chemise (Latin: camisia) was the basic undergarment worn directly on the skin. It usually reached down to the thighs and had wide, sometimes even floor-length sleeves. Poorer men wore simple, linen-like shirts, while the shirts of noblemen were made of finer cotton or linen fabrics.
Surcoats or Tabards
Surcoats were an important status symbol. These sleeveless, floor-length robes were worn over the tunic and displayed the wearer's family coat of arms. The surcoat served to indicate membership of a particular noble family and was widely worn by knights, noblemen and princes.
