Historical Costume for Women

Women's fashion in the Middle Ages is as varied as you might think; every geographical area and era has its own fashions. In this blog, we'll be taking inspiration from some of the fashions of European medieval women's costume to add a historical touch to your LARP costumes. From head to toe, you'll have a detail to add to your character!  

Styling your hair

Medieval customs dictated that women should wear their hair long, as a symbol of eroticism and femininity. It was equally accepted that women often covered their hair, whether with veils or chaperones. 

Whether for a religious figure, a warrior or a noblewoman, how you wear your hair in LARP is an element that can easily convey information about your character. It's important to consider what you plan to do at events, so you can solidify your hairstyle accordingly. We certainly don't need to worry if our hair is short or dyed an unusual color and we want to have a historical hairstyle. We can choose to wear a wig or use a variety of accessories to create a beautiful historical-inspired look.

Flower crowns, wraps and beads

For festive occasions, young girls and boys created or bought flower crowns to decorate their hair. The wealthiest, meanwhile, could wear a thin, shoulder-length veil on their heads, topped with a tiara consisting of a metal ring adorned with goldsmith's flowers. This video explains how to make a flower crown, and gives a good example that's easy to do at home. 

 

Women sometimes used braids to tie back their hair. On special occasions, they would separate their hair into two sections and thread a ribbon through. Several videos are available to explore more 'historic wrapping styles, or even with braids. 

You could also add pearls to your hair. Today's most popular beads are made of metal to make them more resistant, which is to our advantage in LARPs. On the other hand, if you want to go back in time, we know that pearls were mainly made of wood, bleached bone or amber. At the time, they were worn in the hair and in the beard.

Veil and hat styles 

The chinstrap veil was a simple veil fastened with pins and tied over the chin. It is matched by a head veil falling over the shoulders and accompanied by a crown. 

The guimpe is a more conservative type of veil. Its purpose is to cover more skin than the chinstrap. It covers the ears, chin and neck. It was accompanied by a veil and sometimes a tiara. Under the veil, long hair was often braided away from the face.

Later, nobles began to wear a touret, a small round hat with a chin strap. The hair was held in place by a snood, a net of silver, gold or braided pearls. The snood was held in place by a metal hoop or fabric band. This type of hairstyle is best suited to styles approaching the Renaissance.

For female characters steeped in magic, the witch's hat has a long and troubled history, which can be summed up in this video. While today the pointed hat is synonymous with magic, this was not the case in medieval times. The women of knowledge of the Middle Ages, from Hildegarde of Bingen to Héloïse of Argenteuil, wore the clothes that suited their social status and occupation. However, in LARP, this iconic hat is a sign of feminine magical power and can be the perfect occult touch for your character!

The tricorn hat is a much later accessory, appearing around the 18th century. However, it is quite common to see it in LARPs. Originally worn by men, it's still the perfect historical hat for your buccaneer, privateer or pirate to follow in the footsteps of Jeanne de Belleville or Anne Bonny.

Medieval women's clothing

Women's clothing consisted of several pieces. The first, which acted as an undergarment, was a long medieval shirt, often made of linen. Creating a protective barrier between the skin and the dress, this undergarment protected the richer fabrics of the dress from the sweat of the skin. The advantage of natural fibers is that they breathe well and remain light all day, allowing you to move freely and comfortably without compromising the beauty of the complete costume.

Medieval dresses were all quite long. The quantity of fabric was synonymous with wealth, and sleeves were sometimes wide, depending on the style. They could also be decorated with a border of embroidered fabric in various colors and fur. Thus, a peasant's dress and a nobleman's dress could be very different. 

The surcoat is a garment originally worn by men, but also emblematic of medieval women's fashion. This sleeveless garment was added over a dress to keep warm, contrast color and emphasize certain parts of the body. Some surcots could also represent heraldic symbols or even family or kingdom colors.

Dresses were the preferred garment for women in medieval times. Skirts were common, but less so than dresses and pants were not worn by women in this period. In LARP, however, it is sometimes more practical to wear a pair of pants under one's armor in order to fight. 

The skirt hike is very common at medieval festivals, but it's not medieval! This accessory made its appearance towards the end of the 19th century. Camping, climbing and hiking became popular among the wealthy who could afford leisure activities. Ladies used to lift their skirts with this pair of rings to free their legs from cumbersome fabrics and avoid soiling the hems of their dresses. 

Accessories: belts, corsets, capes, purses, jewelry

Medieval women's belts were a popular  accessory in the Middle Ages, highlighting feminine curves hidden beneath multiple layers of clothing. Belts could be made of leather, metal or fabric. In LARP, many belts were worn around the waist, with at least one utilitarian and one decorative.

Aumonieres or escarcelles (fitted with a clasp) served as small bags containing money and a few everyday tools. Made of fabric, often embroidered and decorated, these accessories are the ancestors of modern hand bags. Worn by both men and women, such an accessory adds a historic look to your costume.

The pouches on the belt was a must-have at the time. It's what's most often used in LARPs!

Corsets as we know them are a 19st-century legacy. However, the garment's ancestors may date back to the 16th century. The stays were practical for supporting the weight of numerous skirts and petticoats, as well as providing a fashionable silhouette. Today, in LARPs, the corset is adapted in many ways and is an essential part of a woman's ensemble. In leather or fabric, reinforced with plastic or metal boning, the corset is a versatile piece, perfect for many occasions.

To keep warm, wearing a cloak with a hood is essential. They could be made of cotton to be breathable, or wool to offer some protection from the rain and to maintain a certain warmth. These garments were fastened with a fibula, a type of medieval brooch. 

Jewelry varied according to the owner's wealth and geographical area. In addition to personal significance, wearing jewelry ensured that the wearer always had some monetary value with him or her, and prevented theft. In the event of a problem, the wearer could resell the jewels as is, or have them melted down to recover the precious metals. In LARP, jewelry is a finishing touch that underlines your character's history, even its symbolism, as well as refining your costume.

The shoes worn by people in medieval times were generally made of leather to withstand a wide range of environments and weather conditions, and to ensure a longer life for the shoes. The fashion of the period was sometimes to make them long and pointed at the toe. Those who wore shoes made of a less resistant material, such as wool, usually accompanied them with wooden clogs to make them more durable.

Did women in armor
exist in the Middle Ages? 

Controversial and rare figures, women who took up arms in the Middle Ages nevertheless existed in good numbers. The most popular of these female knights remains Joan of Arc, but we can also mention Eleanor of Aquitaine and Alix de Montmorency, who took part in the crusades, or Matilda of Tuscany, Clemence of Burgundy, Isabelle of France and Joan of Flanders, to name but a few examples in Europe.

Women can fight, and take up arms and arguments to defend their position. For combat, you'll need armor that's adapted to the female body, and Azure Artisans make several models perfect for any need.

Come and improve your costume in the store! 

While medieval inspiration can add complexity to a costume, LARP is also the place to think outside the box and wear a costume that represents your character while remaining comfortable. For advice on how to create the best costume for you, inspired by medieval times rich in fashion and clothing, visit us in-store! Our team will advise you, and you could even create your own custom-made garment to realize your idea. 

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