Everyday Life in the 15th Century – Clothing the Common Folk
Picture this – it’s a bright sunny Saturday at Ludlow Castle and volunteers from the Beaufort Companye and Thomas Stanley’s retinue are lined up to show us the fashions of the 15th Century. They show a broad range of medieval society, which we can detect from the differences in their clothes. Which, as ever, were as much about showing off social status as they were about practicality.
Clothing as a Social Code
From cooks and spinners to well-dressed townsfolk, clothing was never just about keeping warm – it was a visual marker of who you were, and where you stood in society. One glance at a person’s outfit could tell you instantly whether they were your “better” or your “lesser.”
The Working Woman
At the more modest end of the scale, a working woman of the town would wear a simple kirtle: a fitted gown that formed the foundation of women’s clothing. Over this, she might add an over-gown for decency when out in public and finish the look with sturdy leather shoes.
The fabrics here mattered. Wool was the backbone of English medieval clothing: warm, durable, and available in different grades. It was versatile enough for both the poor and the wealthy, with quality and dye deciding the price. Linen, on the other hand, was prized for being cool, breathable, and easy to wash, making it the perfect choice for undergarments or layers worn close to the skin. Together, wool and linen balanced comfort, cleanliness, and cost – the essentials of a modest but respectable wardrobe.
Nothing about this outfit was flashy, but it was decent, respectable, and perfectly suited to daily life – whether spinning, minding children, or running errands in town.
The Ordinary Working Man
The male counterpart to our townswoman would likely wear a long, simple coat over a doublet, with fitted hose (the medieval equivalent of trousers) tied in place. These clothes made him respectable enough to be seen in public but did not place him at the cutting edge of fashion. Think of him as the ‘lower middle class’ of his day: not destitute, but certainly not decked in the newest trends. Practical, serviceable, and good enough for the marketplace or church, but far removed from the luxurious fabrics and colours of the elite.
Our journey through 15th-century fashion is to be continued in Part 2, where we move up the social ladder to explore flashier fashions, international influences, and the first signs of extravagance…
Image Credits: Cheltenham Media