Clothing In The Middle Ages

“Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them”, declared top designer Marc Jacobs. Although others may have differing opinions; there is definite significance to clothing in history. Although clothing began as simply a way to combat the environment, purely functional, it quickly evolved to represent the values of people and became a method of self-expression. Clothing started Europe has consistently been a center for innovations in culture and fashion. With every major event that occurred, there was a similar change in the previous garments. Therefore, the society and attitudes of each time period are reflected in the fashions and style of European citizens.

Basic fashion began in the middle ages, or which consisted of the fifth through
the fourteenth century. Additionally, it was the time period that first began the tradition of clothes as work uniforms. An example of this was late in the fourteenth century when nobles’ robes had stripes which indicated rank. This practice was carried over in various ways through the years, with similarities found in modern military uniforms. One of the first true fashion eras came at a time of great social change. The Renaissance was a time when people began to think about things much differently. The extravagance and lavishness of the clothing was due to the mindset of the time, more open-minded and art-centric than before. Northern Europe distorted the figure with padding, England, France and Italy continued to stay with medieval inspired fashion, Germans had over the top "enhancements" of the body, with various puffs. Throughout all Europe attire had strong dark colors and rich materials. The fashions were expressing the new way life, just as over the top as the new discoveries.

The arrival of the 17th century, along with the Enlightenment, brought about the Baroque and Rococo eras.
The heaviness and weight of the material remained, but contrasting pastels replaced the dark colors of the Renaissance. In France, the murder of the governor of the Bastille in 1789, began the Napoleonic age. Within the years of 1789 and 1815, there was a visible change of old world to new. Heavily embroidered skirts were replaced by breezy, flowing tunics of parisian women after the French Revolution. Clothes were how one told the world their opinions, even at risk to themselves, and as way to support a particular social group. The French Republic and its democratic values, was what what strongly influenced the Regency era, a time of simple elegance from 1790 to 1820.During the Romantic era, women's fashion became almost purely decorative. Because women were seen as weak and delicate their clothes reflected that, with extreme corsets and petticoats, not very allowing for many activities. In this era fashion and emotion were preferred over the function and reason of the last
decade.

When Queen Victoria came to the English throne in 1837, she became the model of womanhood for the nation.
Her values such as modesty were reflected in the fashion of the time, with very full and long skirts. Clothing covered almost all skin except for the face, with the exception of evening wear.But as a contrast, it was at this time dress reform began, supported by the suffrage movement, with protesters trying to get less restrictive clothing for women. The "artificial" silhouette was what was desired by English women. The death of Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's beloved husband was what sparked a change in Victorian Era fashion. Because the British Court was in mourning, darker gloomier colors came into fashion. Black became an incredibly popular color, and not solely for mourning. The fashion of the Art Nouveau era, from 1890 to 1911, was a nod to romantic era fashion, but stronger and more imposing. This was just as women, especially unmarried women, became more active and visible in their communities, the unmarried working in shops as well as offices, and housewives with
volunteering.

The early years of the Art Deco movement from 1911 to 1929 was a time of great social change for women, with the passing of the Suffrage amendment. World War I brought about a role change for women, and with changing expectations came changes in fashion. There was shaving legs due to shorter skirts, makeup became more common, and there was creativity taken with jewelry as it was frivolous during the war. Women now had cropped hair and were seen wearing breeches. This was a pivotal time for women’s fashion, influencing style for years to come. Post World War I, up until the later years of the Art Deco movement, fashion was focused on the youth. The 1930’s were marked by a desire for women to return to a more feminine image, as they were being forced to return to traditional roles. In such a depression, jobs were socially accepted to be only filled by men and not women, so more refined clothing came back into style.

Disregarding the importance of fashion within European or even world history would be ignoring a large aspect of culture. Society has majorly influenced fashion, and fashion has been a view within ideas and values of a group of people. Fashion mirrors society and is a complex form of art and culture. It has consistently changed with the times, and continues to do so.