Middle Ages Fashion Trends

In the Middle Ages, fashion was not so important as it is in today’s society. There was little need to dress up or even dress at all, so women wore what they had on their bodies. It was a time when being beautiful was more important than wealth, and worse yet, people with money had to be ugly just to be able to afford clothes. Therefore, fashions in the Middle Ages were rather primitive. There were very few patterns, and clothing was very utilitarian in nature. This is not to say that there weren’t any good fashion styles, but the clothes were functional rather than decorative.

As time passed, different factors would influence Middle Ages fashion such as ideas about gender roles and societal norms. As more ideas about beauty became widespread throughout the community, so did the necessity for high fashion. In fact, this need for style became so great that many women began to sew their own clothing. The complexity of Middle Ages clothing made it difficult for commoners to afford such clothing, so they had to look to other resources. Most women turned to borrowing clothes and items from wealthier women.

As cloth became more expensive, so did the demand for stylish items. It was during this time that tailors began to make these fashionable garments and accessories. The process of making these clothing items became faster, and middle class families were able to afford such items as a white ruffled dress or a frilly skirt. In fact, the development of sewing and the creation of knitted clothing caused middle class families to spend more money on their clothes.