Medieval Costume and How to Recreate It

This unique reference classifies the clothes and accessories of the 12th through fifteen15thth centuries along social lines. Garments of every type, from the wardrobes of peasants and nobility, appear in over 200 period illustrations and patterns. Helpful advice covers: choosing fabrics, placement of seams, draping and folding garments, how to walk and dance in voluminous attire, and methods of storage. Unabridged republication of the classic 1931 edition. 203 black-and-white illus.

Review: Use with Caution
Dorothy Hartley's book, first published in 1931, has many good things about it, and also many not-so-good things. The book does have a wealth of black-and-white illustrations reproduced from period sources, and these are outstanding. Ms. Hartley's interpretations of medieval dress, however, are not always on the mark...page 103, for example, has a drawing of a "sleeveless coat" which is actually a mis-interpretation of a fur-trimmed sideless surcote. Also confusing is the "loose side piece" in her diagram of a hunting tunic on page 57...nothing in the period illustrations would indicate a garment cut and worn that way, and it just doesn't make sense.

So...like a lot of other costume texts published in the early 20th century, don't take everything in this book for gospel truth, and double-check the details against other sources if you're looking for true authenticity.




Medieval Costume and Fashion

Book Description

This superb panoramic study of clothing worn in the Middle Ages will fascinate costume enthusiasts, fashion historians and anyone intrigued by medieval life. A meticulously researched text is enhanced with nearly 700 illustrations depicting all manner of apparel—from fur-trimmed cloaks and brocaded robes of courtiers and the nobility to simpler mantles, tunics and trousers worn by merchants, huntsmen, and other commoners. Also included: hairstyles, foot-covering, jewelry, headgear, weapons, and even advice on table manners. "Fascinating in its detail and particularly clearly and well arranged [this book is] a helpful and welcome means of refreshing one’s memory with long-forgotten dates."—Saturday Review.

Review: Use With Caution

Like his "Tudor Costume and Fashion," Herbert Norris's "Medieval Costume and Fashion" has wonderfully clear illustrations and virtually no attribution of illustrations or facts to sources. This volume does have the virtue of containing fewer irrelevant, discursive historical ramblings and of being more focused. However, I would still check Mr. Norris's assertions against Mary Houston, Stella Mary Newton, and other period and scholarly sources before accepting them.

Review: Nice pickys
This is a book to use for the pictures when you've already done the research into the period you are intersed in. The drawings are detailed but the text can be vague and if you are trying to make acurate costumes I would not rely on this book alone but it is also a handy book to have.

Review: A beginning
I too am always looking for the one book that does it for me. This was my 1st Norris and it was hard to read, didn't have the info i needed and did'nt sight references but it must have done something right. It got me started researching, reading and experimenting. Norris sights Norris. He has the expert at the time the books were written. If you keep that in mind and love history, you can see how we got off base and why. It is a beginning book on basic costuming history. It is repeatative and rambling but valuable for values sake. If it's all you can afford go for it,you will be entertained and inspired. If you need to be exact. Go for something else

Review: Great to look at but horribly inaccurate
This book is one of the medieval costume sources heavily influenced by the Victorian era. Norris' redrawings are changed quite a bit from the originals. He tends to base his thoughts off of the romanticized Victorian view of the middle ages rather than the actual middle ages. What he can't find from that, he just makes up. If you are looking for the "feel" of the middle ages in a halloween costume, this book will be fine. If you are interested in accuracy, you would be better to spend your money elsewhere.

Review: Not Historically Accurate
Norris's book is a good place to start, but he writes with a heavy Victorian bias, and frequently makes a lot of the details up. It's a good basic overview, for costumes and such, but if you're looking for real, authentic, accuratey researched information, such as for the SCA, this is not a reliable source. Aside from accuracy, he completely ignores large sections of Europe - Italy, Scandinavia, Spain - and focuses on England, France, and Germany.

Review: Look elsewhere for primary documentation
Look to other sources for SCA Arts & Sciences documentation. This book is only useful as a good first place for beginner costumers to look for ideas. Norris doesn't list his sources and redrawings cannot be used for costuming documentation. Save your money.

Medieval Costume in England and France: The 13th, 14th and 15th Centuries (Paperback)

Midwest Book Review
Medieval Costumes In England And France is a carefully researched volume offering costume aficionados and enthusiasts of the medieval period a meticulously detailed and splendidly illustrated study of clothing worn in the Middle Ages. Lucidly written accounts of the style and construction of costumes worn in the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries are followed by accurate descriptions and illustrations of royal raiment, elaborate ecclesiastical dress and vestments, academic and legal robes, as well as civilian dress for all classes. Mary Houston is a noted costume historian who brings her special expertise to discussions of accessories and such related subjects as ornaments, jewelry, armor, textiles, embroidery and hair-dressing. The 350 black & white line illustrations are taken from contemporary books, manuscripts, pictorial and sculptural representations. Medieval Costumes In England And France provides superbly documented information that is both clearly and succinctly presented in the text. Medieval Costumes In England And France is a "must have" reference for theatrical costume designers, members of organizations like "The Society for Creative Anachronism", science fiction & fantasy conventions, Madrigal performances, or even halloween parties and costume balls!

Book Description
Carefully researched, meticulously detailed account of the style and construction of period costumes. Includes descriptions and illustrations of royal apparel, elaborate ecclesiastical dress and vestments, academic and legal garments and civilian dress of all classes. Also discusses jewelry, armor, textiles, embroidery and hairdressing.

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Review: A must for historical writers or costumers

This book is a wonderful reference book for historical writers, SCA people or costumers. It covers three centuries of England and France during the Middle Ages, and has over 350 illustrations. Describes the styles, patterns for construction of medieval dress for all classes. also, goes into adornments such as jewelry and hairdressing. The book, as well,covers armour and the materials of the period.
This is an absolute must for anyone wanting to know what they wore, what it was made of, and the various evolving of styles.

Review: A great place to start
Houston's book seems to be an excellent overview of the costume of the late medieval period. While it doesn't delve much into the actual construction of the clothing (i.e. patterns, stitching, etc.), it's quite good at giving a solid visual representation of the changes that occurred during these centuries, and as such I think it's a great starting point for study.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the illustrations in here are redrawn from primary sources, so serious students of costuming will want to look at the primary sources whenever possible. Most will also need to seek out other sources to find better information on the construction of the clothing as well. But even so, this book is so inexpensively priced that I can't find too much to quibble about. Anyone, especially beginners, can buy it as an introduction and then move on to more detailed sources later.

Review: Makes me want to sew even more!!!

I use this book as a reference for all of my hopelades and Surcotes, and several of my men's things. I love this book!!

Review: Great book for beginning researchers!
Absolutely love this book. Though it is simple, I feel it's one of the essential clothing books if you're doing recreations. The layouts are great, the explanations well-done, and there are easy-to-follow diagrams for patterns. Documentation in the form of illuminated manuscripts and rubbings from funerary monuments, etc, also are VERY helpful. Personally, I don't make a single thing without consulting this book at least once!

Review: Useful and unusual points of wiev, for all studies of dress
Easy to understand and with material suited for reenactors or makers of theatrical costume, the writer shows a sincerity for research in costume history that also makes this work suitable as a complementary book for serious studies. Illustrated with linedrawings and diagrams of construction. The diagrams are mostly based on conjecture and reconstruction work, as preserwed items of clothing from this period is extremely rare. Also shows armour and heraldry. Normally i dissaprove of illustations that are drawn after an original instead of reproducing them, but as the book was first printed in 1939, when photographic illustarations was a technical and economical luxury, and the writer gives the exact sources of the originals for the drawings, this book is an exeption for me. Normally I'm also sceptical towards reconstructions, but the writer is so straightforward about the fact that they are reconstructions, and by giving not only the result but the process of reasoning that leed to them, she gives the reader an opportunity to agre or dissagre with her. Personaly I'm inclined to agree with her reasoning as to how garments may have been constructed and why it looked and was done in that way.As an example she points out that techniques to bee considered must be wieved not from our present position but bee based on what was done in the preceeding period. What is a reasonable change? One may wish for a rewrite with all this sincerety and clear reasoning applied to more recent research material but untill that has been doone this is the book that provides many unusual and useful points of view on the subject.

Creating a Renaissance Faire Character
So, you've visited your first Renaissance Festival and you're ready to volunteer or audition for your local faire? Well, being a part of a performance as large and vast as a Renaissance Faire needs some preparation.

Before you take another step, realize that being an actor at a Renaissance Faire is more than just dressing up in costume and playing all day. Its hard, grueling work, and takes months of preparation to create a believable, period character.

Research
First, you should give yourself a brief schooling on the time period. I recommend 'The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in Renaissance England: From 1485-1649 (Writer's Guides to Everyday Life)' as a quick primer to all aspects of Tudor/Elizabethan life.

Secondly, visit as many faires as possible. Learn from the actors there. Most Renaissance Faire performers are wonderful people who'd love to share stories and experiences with you -- but not during their performing time. Introduce yourself, and ask them if they have a break or some free time to talk with you. Politeness will get you everywhere.

Preparation
In preparation for your character, I recommend reading Gary Izzo's 'The Art of Play : The New Genre of Interactive Theatre' and also 'Acting Interactive Theatre : A Handbook'. Gary directs the Sterling Forest Renaissance Festival cast and literally wrote the book on how its done. These books take you from start to finish in creating your character, and its motivation.

Accent
Now that you've gotten your character, give he or she convincing 16th century liguistics. Check out Laura Crockett's 'Trippingly on the Tongue' and 'Words of Course' for the proper "Basic Faire Accent" or BFA.

Costuming
Finally, now that you've completed your research, character, and accent, chances are you'll want to dress your character. Basic costuming for the period is easily acheived. Refer to 'Elizabethan Costuming (For The Years 1550 - 1580)' and 'Tudor Costume and Fashion'.

More complex, upper class costuming requires a little more work and skill. You'll want to refer to 'Patterns of Fashion: The Cut and Construction of Clothes for Men and Women C1560-1620', 'Period Costume for Stage & Screen: Patterns for Women's Dress 1500-1800', 'Tailor's Pattern Book 1589', and 'Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd: The inventories of the Wardrobe of Robes prepared in July 1600, edited from Stowe MS 557 in the British Library, MS LR 2/121 in the Public Record Office, London, and MS V.b.72 in the Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington DC'.

Simplicity, Butterick, and McCall's all offer reasonable, but not authentic patterns for recreating tudor fashions. However, I recommend the patterns contained in 'Patterns for Theatrical Costumes: Garments, Trims, and Accessories from Ancient Egypt to 1915', but have some experience before attempting these designs.

Have Fun
Enjoy your new found hobby. Remember, Renaissance Faires are professional performances, so if you aren't officially employed or volunteering at a particular faire, check with the faire management before unleashing your new character in their village. You may find such performances are unwelcome, though with advance notice, most festivals will gladly accomodate vetern "visiting" performers.

Other Halloween Costume Ideas

Halloween Ideas and Tips
Halloween Party Ideas
Halloween Costume Ideas
Halloween Decorating Ideas
Halloween Safety Tips
Halloween Makeup and Special Effects Ideas
Halloween Haunted House Ideas
Halloween Ideas
Halloween Recipes
Halloween Movies
Halloween Holiday
Harry Potter Costumes
Incredibles Costumes
Goth Costumes
Plus Size Costumes
Star War Costume
Batman Costume
Lady Bug Costume
Lion Costume
Halloween Costume
Halloween Dog Costume
Halloween Adult Costume
Renaissance Costume
Halloween Sexy Costume
Pirate Costume
Belly Dance Costume
Medieval Costume
Fairy Costume
Willy Wonka Costume
Power Ranger Costume
Spider Man Costume
Darth Vader Costume
Halloween Baby Costume
Clown Costume
Halloween Child Costume
Halloween Kids Costume
Toddler Halloween Costume
Disney Costume
Couple Halloween Costume
Classic Costume
Infant Halloween Costume
Hollywood Costume
Teen Halloween Costume
Halloween Shop
Costume Wig
Halloween Masks
Wonder Woman Costume
Tinkerbell Costume
Super Hero Costume
Halloween Prop
Halloween Costume Store
Princess Costume
Halloween Costume Accessories
Halloween Cheap Costumes
Adults take over Halloween
Halloween Festivals
Halloween History
Monster Costume
Naughty Nurse Costume
Devil Costume
Witch Costume
Vampire Costume
Hobitt Costume
Goblin Costume
Angel Costume
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Costume
Ninja Costume
Ghost Costume
Sponge Bob Square Pants Costume
Sexy Cheerleader Costume
Hilarious costumes
Barbie Costume
Sexy Bunny Costume
French Maid Costume
Big Kahuna Costume
Go Go Costume
Sexy Cop Costume
Hippie Costume