Dressing up a 14th century lady

Let us see what womenfolk wore at the dawn of the 14th century!
Enjoy!
CREDITS
Clothing and presentation:
www.priorattire.co.uk
photography:
www.timelightphotographic.com
shoes:
www.andyburke.co.uk
jewellery:
www.gemmeus.com
music:
www.blastfromthepast.org.uk

[@37Kalinka]

As an art historian I'm glad to see sculptures that depicts the items you made ! I'm quite interested in clothing evolution and mostly use paintings and art pieces to understand and visualise elements of historical costume. You taking it to life is a really pleasure !

[@anniebrahe3301]

Clothing - 10/10; Information - 10/10; Pictures - 10/10; Merlin - 12/10

[@Nicole-zg6wm]

Loved that you showed pictures of the staues as historical examples!!

[@celticgoddess81]

HAHA Merlin is priceless. At the end he was almost saying "What just happened?!"

[@lindafredtrauffer8175]

I seem to remember (eons ago) when studying costuming in college that the very act of holding the fabric of the gown in front of the stomach gave a maternal appearance and was considered quite flattering for a woman, hence the extra length. Although, since I’m older than dirt, that may just be a fragmented memory due to long days and nights slaving over antiquated sewing machines amongst mountains of UFOs in the college costume room. 🌟 Kudos for the exquisite presentation! Long may Merlin reign!

[@Nikki-tx6kh]

If you watch the BBC documentary A Stitch in Time, they talk about that. They reproduced the gown in the Arnolfini Marriage painting and they talk about how the weight of the dress gave you the posture and how they might managed on the time

[@bonniebellekalos318]

Why is this post in my mailbox? This is not me. Why send it to me?

[@Tinalles]

Note on Princess Leia's hairdo: it was inspired by traditional Hopi braids. I saw several photos of them at the Denver Museum of Art a couple years ago when they hosted an exhibit of Star Wars costuming. Another interesting factoid from the same exhibit is that although they look rough and burlap-ish, Jedi robes are actually made of silk. It was the only fabric that would swirl dramatically enough while they were waving light sabers at one another.

[@jenniferbrewer5370]

These fashions look so silly in paintings of the era, but when you actually put them on, they look like they make sense.

[@tjw9985]

Oh, yes. Once again the black cat seal of approval and of course as the perfect accessory.

[@erikagehm2805]

Merlin is such a cute kitty. Plot twist he is the real Merlin just stuck in cat form.

[@sophuzzy]

Yes! Merlin! A proper cat. I always look forward to these posts.

[@ItsJustLisa]

Lovely! Little did we know we’d get to see noise-canceling braids and Merlin transport. Goofy boy!

[@manonamanona9594]

Wow...This looks tremendously comfy compared to what women wore in later centuries. It's more modest too.

[@sweetlorikeet]

In the BBC series Secrets of the Castle a historian puts on peasant clothes from this time period and says it's the most comfortable thing she's ever worn in her life haha

[@medicaoctavia8002]

Funny you should say that. Priests used to complain about the way these dresses were cut with low necklines and tight bodices, with belts slung around the hips to emphasize the shape. And the overgowns cut to basically reveal the close fit sides of the gown and the wearer were often called the “gates of hell” by scandalized elders.

[@Odo-so8pj]

If you mean corsets. They weren't fetish things back then. Supported the bust and weight of the clothes.

[@spooniesarah]

Typical cat at the end! 😂 can you do a video entirely of bloopers, heavily featuring Merlin?

[@izzybeth]

Love the inclusion of art from the period showing us the original styles! And Merlin being a true cat, of course.

[@melissamcqueen582]

I love that you have a tuxedo cat. How iconic. 😻

[@Mommamacnz]

Gorgeous outfit, and I can see why the barbette was a useful thing to wear, otherwise ladies would be loosing their veils in any kind of a breeze! Merlin is such typical cat hitching a ride on your train like that - cute and funny.

[@dbseamz]

Cats took train rides LONG before people thought to.

[@booknerdlover3675]

I read a lot of history books - both nonfiction and fiction (romance, time-travel, fantasy, etc.) and they always talk in detail about the clothing, especially women's clothing. Your videos make it so much easier to picture what they mean when talking about brocade, wimples, etc. I sincerely appreciate these videos and thank you for making them!!

[@lizhart81]

I do love this era, but I must admit I got distracted by admiring your tablet loom for a minute there! I've been a long time knitter and crocheter, but I learnt a bit of spinning, tablet weaving, naalbinding and sprang a few years ago when I helped out with some living history for primary school kids (late Danelaw era). Tablet weaving was my favourite, and I always meant to build a loom myself (rather than my usual method of tying it to my belt and looping the other end over a convenient doorknob!). You've inspired me to get stuck in to a DIY project on my next day off.

[@MsKathleenb]

Ugh, naalbinding! I've tried that so many times, but it never sticks in my head.

[@heidikindon5182]

Oooh I have tried sprang and it was as interesting as frustrating! That crispinette would definitely have been sprang in that time period I believe.

[@evamiller4886]

The dress is so pretty! And looks much more comfortable than later variations with stays, corsets, and multiple pairs of sleeves.

[@muddywater2207]

Absolutely love Merlin!

[@georgina3358]

I wonder why the surcoat was so long, so very impractical, except for transporting cats of course, which mediaeval ladies did all the time. Great video. Thank you!

[@hoonduthevw3745]

Conspicuous consumption. You had extra fabric to drag along the ground in an inconvenient fashion because you were rich enough to both afford it and not have to worry about practical matters like it getting in the way while you worked

[@georgina3358]

@@hoonduthevw3745 yes, you're right, conspicuous consumption was alive and kicking in the 14th century.

[@richardsmith2879]

Lovely. If you survive the Black Death I’d love to see the later horned headdresses so popular in Flanders.

[@emilynightingale7758]

i just love how the cat just let you drag him across the ground, hahaha

[@reginawolf6127]

I love your videos. And as a cat mom myself, love seeing Merlin in the videos as well. His look at the end was priceless. Like saying, "really Mom?!?! I was comfy, how rude!!!" You are very photogenic as well.

[@ipsitamazumdar4849]

Mid century royal or not...doesn’t impress cat. Le chat, he Is Royalty 🤣🤣🤣

[@Steampunkkids]

What a lovely and noble couple you and your husband make! I love Merlin and I’m always happy to see more kitty cat in your videos. Thank you for another excellent video!

[@karakarapi7963]

ever second of merlin footage adds a year to my life span

[@sinndymorr6358]

The fabrics are lovely! LOL!! Merlin enjoys the fabrics as well!

[@helenel4126]

Splendid! Now we all know what the well-dressed cat of the 14th century wore too!

[@purplealice]

Merlin is always appropriately garbed for any occasion in any historical period.

[@karenwright6479]

Lovely,and warm,those castles are so drafty...impossibly cute King and Queen!!

[@cubemissy]

Well, now we know what the long trains were for. Cat transportation!

[@lesleysullivan6458]

Your cat is a hoot, lol. Very much loved the outfit. Well done ☺.

[@sarahgoldberg6614]

I'm having flashbacks to making that type of hose for a show I worked on, and then giving up on the foot parts because it took 5 times longer to get the foot to work than the rest of the hose, and the actors would be wearing boots, anyway. It backfired a bit when Romeo got out of bed with Juliet and was wearing tube socks at dress rehearsal.

[@sparkybolt2085]

Love the kitty bloopers! XD

[@gabriellagrimaldo6335]

Hi, just wanted to say that my cat loved the music on this video. She is purring like crazy. Btw, loved the Merlin cameo.

[@dbseamz]

I was thinking about Leia before the video mentioned it, and not only the hair--she too wears a long belted gown. Guys, I think we found the time period that Star Wars talks of as "a long time ago/long long ago"!

[@jillniemczynski5517]

Just beautiful, as always! 👍 Merlin is soooo handsome, & he knows it! 🐱 Thank you so much. 💙🏰👑👸🎪

[@axerxes3981]

Wait, wait, wait.... you mean that Princess Leia's conical braids were actually horsehair!!! What a beautiful delight. Thank you for sharing.... best wishes, Ax

[@VulcanTrekkie45]

Ugh, how dare you be so mean to Merlin? :P Makes me wonder what the medieval version of the phrase “if I fits I sits” is

[@_cherry_soda_]

“If’t be true I fits, I sits”

[@Ross_mo]

if thou fitteth, then thou must needs sitteth

[@morgansparhawk8410]

Lol Merlin hitching a ride was adorable

[@cjlaw0137]

I'm so used to seeing tudor and later period fashion where it tends to be fitted lower cut etc this was refreshing to see how simple clothing was only a century or so before. Thanks for sharing

[@reddragun43]

I have worn similar garments many times. Your videos are so easy to understand and really bring historical dressing to life. Thanks for sharing your passion with us.

[@ladypoetess]

Sweet Merlin.

[@scook5599]

Oh my goodness! Merlin is so cute! That is one determined kittie!

[@mnels5214]

Lovely! And the Merlin cameo is always a lot of fun...

[@Vid7872]

Another beautiful video. In case you are taking requests: undergarment development through the ages. I can't even imagine going around without some sort of frontal support.

[@heidiflanders954]

I simply adore your work... someday I will be able to afford a custom gown from you. In the mean time I will continue to dream with your videos!

[@gidgetcricketangel]

Just love your videos! Must be expensive to make all these costumes but such a pleasure to wear them! Thank you for sharing

[@priorattire]

They are mostly my working wardrobe:-)

[@dean8842]

She almost makes me wish I lived in the 14th century... almost. Lemme just remain here in the 21st century with all its creature comforts and allow the beautiful miss to be my time-traveling guide.

[@lesliemccormick6527]

And hygiene. Never underestimate modern hygiene!😉

[@tessa7228]

Me too i wish i lived the 14th century so i could dress up like her everday, she's literally so stunning with this dress and headscarf😍

[@fjolliff6308]

When I wear my long skirts, especially layered, my cats think that they are tents for them to hide under! For whatever reason, cats just love all of that fabric and I live for it!

[@VixanneDarkfairy]

No gown is complete without a feline photobomb. LOL Thanks for sharing all these dressing vids. I show these to newcomers in the SCA and Steampunk groups.

[@lindsaywhite7066]

Merlin is the best cat

[@bobbibuttons8730]

I must admit, you are always so regal and beautiful looking. Merlin of course is stunning.

[@silvananivis9867]

That last green ensemble looks stunning on you. Really brings out your eyes

[@suzannederringer1607]

Medieval dress has always been my favorite. Simple and comfortable and gracefully draped. Your outfit is gorgeous!

[@MyLittleWonderWorld]

The riding hose made me curious! I know that in later centuries there were specific clothing for riding, but what about medieval times? Since you are a rider yourself, would you ever consider doing a video about riding habits through the centuries?

[@priorattire]

I am currently writing a book on this.....

[@MyLittleWonderWorld]

priorattire Curiouser and curiouser!

[@debtansey89]

This beautiful attire was made perfect by Merlin.

[@silvergypsylady]

Got a good chuckle out of the veil flowing strait up. 😃 Merlin is too cute. Gotta love our kitty helpers. 🐱

[@baileyscott5498]

this is wonderful! the brocade on the cuffs and necks of your blue kirtle is quite lovely.

[@crystalfabulous]

Photo bomb set it off just perfect

[@MJK1965]

Poor Merlin, so upset when you pulled the train out from under him. Hence the tail lashing. They sure did dress to leave everything to the imagination in those days.

[@karinpassmore9127]

The model is as always: adorable. Thank you for the lesson and for solving fashion history mysteries!

[@mayakainn3127]

The cat on the train is so cute!😍

[@kasi8400]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE these earlier outfits!! If you end up reading this comment, I wonder if you could put together an outfit from the earliest date where you can find evidence/reference (as in beginning at the time when Britain started to stop being a collection of kingdoms/clans and began to become a cohesive whole). Thanks so much for this video! I love this channel!

[@MsJPA79]

I love Merlin. Such cutie pie kitty cat! My cats do the same things. 😸😸😸

[@catwhisperer7655]

Loved Merlin lying on your dress. :)

[@pay1370]

merlin is the most precious creature to have ever walked this earth!

[@lindacozette9617]

I LOVE these Prior Attire videos!

[@sharonballantyne1735]

Me too!😊

[@chesneywhite9334]

The cat reminds me of that Japanese (I think) painting of a woman cutting her kimono to avoid waking the cat sleeping on it

[@blktauna]

Are you implying the train is _not_ for him ;-)

[@Sweet_Ghoul]

The pic with the veil almost escaping was hilarious. Also Merlim always bright the day!

[@kaysprerogative6746]

I wondehow many women wore the longer ones all the time for extra warmth. *said the always cold woman*

[@forestgreen41]

What a handsome Royal Couple!!!

[@christineingram55]

Absolutely gorgeous ..love the rich fabrics,though I wonder how many women fell with such long skirts..love vintage clothes I would love them they hide so much lol..but love the freedom of trousers 😀

[@bshan804]

Merlin is adorable! I'll bet he'd like playing with our Morgan!

[@Cissy2cute]

I had to laugh as some things never change through the centuries. I'm sure all of us know what it's like to put on hose or socks and see the toe poking through. 😁 This was very interesting and the clothing actually looked comfortable. Hmmm....that fellow at the end, quite handsome and his clothes weren't bad either.

[@MadamJester]

If you ever have the opportunity and feel the desire to make more videos on this subject, It would be very nice to learn more about decoratetion and trim on the clothes of this time in more detail. I'm specifically interested in how the necklines are trimmed!

[@FlowersOfIcetor]

We all love a good Merlin moment! I tried making a kirtle recently. It's rather ugly, since I was using fabric already in my collection and mismeasured some parts (whoops), but it works well enough for a fantasy setting and was good experience with gores, something I hadn't done before!

[@suem6004]

Lovely and educational as usual. Some of us peasants prepping fleece for spinning for the weavers.

[@catherineluthultz5494]

You are absolutely beautiful. I watch your videos all the time, and I love that period in history. I use to read historical books and imagine myself wearing those beautiful clothes and living in the castles. I guess I was born in the wrong century.. ❤

[@spookymu1der]

i wonder if medieval ladies had to deal with kitties hitching rides on their trains as well :-)

[@user-de3xr8le6b]

Of course, they had cats, and cats will be cats)))

[@_.bones.and.blumes._]

This is one of my favorite time periods😁

[@scafleet]

Helpful helper cat is helping!

[@madcatlady1935]

Absolutely beautiful - as ever. I was expecting some sort of belt to be used because the over dress (sorry - I know that's not it's proper name) is so long. But that's just my ignorance 😀 Hi Merlin - what a darling 💗💗 Love your videos, your talent is amazing and I'm very envious! 😆

[@anna-mariaciccone3186]

Love the Merlin

[@janedoe805]

I hoping Fashion brings back the “Barbette”, I’m older now with a Turkey Waddle Neck! I honestly don’t know what’s funnier your facial expressions or your narratives!

[@florindalucero3236]

No mention of underpinnings? I find it hard to believe that a woman of substantial bosom, since the invention of cloth, would not figure out some kind of binding or hoisting of the girls...

[@priorattire]

If needs be, linen bindings were used

[@walruslatte6080]

I think that the idea that breasts needed to be higher than their natural position was not a constant in fashion history. The "pigeon breast" silhouette of the late Victorian comes to mind.

[@florindalucero3236]

@@walruslatte6080 I'm not thinking about fashion, per se, but the sort of natural impulse when one has large heavy breasts.

[@spooniesarah]

I agree, large breasts get in the way, it makes sense that women throughout history would have figured a way to corral them, regardless of what the fashion was

[@henwhisperer]

I love the way you put the whole outfit together. I like dressing this way more than I like today’s eyebrows. 😁

[@momof3plusdsg]

I was thinking: "how rude" before it came on the screen in text.😂 I think that most of the illustrations for my childhood fairytales, borrowed from this period.

[@nancyvolker3342]

cat napping is a perrrfict ending

[@theunsalted9195]

Makes me wonder how many times cats rode women’s skirt tails throughout the centuries.

[@DulceN]

Beautiful! I'm a XIII-XV centuries reenactor and love your videos.

[@JaneEMcLernon]

I'm old enough to remember the darning egg and yarn bits in my mom's mending tools.

[@EpiclyAverageGirl]

Please, what is a 'darning egg'?

[@spooniesarah]

I still use a darning egg! Except it's a large plastic Easter egg. Mom used an old baby rattle when I was little. It's my job to mend daddy's socks now. (I'm 27; mom was a seamstress since she was a teen, even made her own wedding dress! The last thing she sewed was a cousin's wedding dress several years ago)

[@user-de3xr8le6b]

A round thing you put the sock on when mending it, can be wooden or plastic

[@cachuhwch1727]

I love it when you shoot somethin of an earlier age. Thank you!

[@jaegrant6441]

You're so pretty! 😍😍 That stitching is amazing!! You're so clever!!

[@borleyboo5613]

Ha ha! Lovely Merlin. This costume ensemble seems quite simple compared to some others you’ve shown. No stays or corset!! But beautiful non the less. Thank you. 👍🐈🐈

[@Nikki-tx6kh]

I watched once a documentary where they theorized that the chin stripe was introduced by Eleanor of Aquitaine as a way to hide a double chin.

[@Aneokame]

Yay, Merlin!!

[@beckstheimpatient4135]

Wonderful! I'm so glad the footage of Merlin made it into the video, I remember when you first posted that on IG. Very interesting detail with the cape strap being held down like that, though. You'd think they'd change the way it's fastened instead of normalizing the gesture of holding it, to the point of it making it onto statues! Why not individual clasps that pinned to the garment? Those have been a cape staple for thousands of years, why use that strap instead? I now have QUESTIONS!

[@priorattire]

Pins were used too- on mantles and circular clámala. But with a strap the cloak is open in front so you can show off your dress...