Fashion in the Middle Ages

by Margaret Scott

Overview

From the costly velvets and furs worn by kings to the undyed wools and rough linens of the peasantry, the clothing worn by the various classes in the Middle Ages played an integral role in medieval society. In addition to providing clues to status, profession, and/or geographic origin, textiles were a crucial element in the economies of many countries and cities.
 
Much of what is known about medieval fashion is gleaned from the pages of manuscripts, which serve as a rich source of imagery. This volume provides a detailed look at both the actual fabrics and composition of medieval clothing as well as the period’s attitude toward fashion through an exploration of illuminated manuscripts in the collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum. The last portion of the book is dedicated to the depiction of clothing in biblical times and the ancient world as seen through a medieval lens. Throughout, excerpts from literary sources of the period help shed light on the perceived role and function of fashion in daily life.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781606065853
Publisher:	Getty Publications
Publication date:	09/11/2018
Edition description:	1
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Margaret Scott is the former head of the History of Dress Department at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, and a world-renowned authority on medieval clothing.
 
 

Table of Contents

Foreword 7

Introduction 9

Chapter 1 Dressing for the Moment 13

Stuffs of Clothing 13

Experiments in Tailoring 23

National Styles 35

Criticism through Dress 44

Clothing a Tale: Romance of the Rose 50

Chapter 2 Dressing for the Job 57

Dressed to Rule 57

Serving God 65

Academic Awards 74

Serving Man 78

Outfitting for the Seasons: Spinola Hours 86

Chapter 3 Dressing for Another Time, Another Place 93

Biblical Times and the Holy Land 93

Ancient Greece and Rome 104

Garbing a Hero: Book of the Deeds of Alexander the Great 110

Glossary of Dress and Fabric Terms 118

Suggestions for Further Reading 120

Editorial Reviews

Margaret Scott’s beautiful volume Fashion in the Middle Ages . . . could almost be read as a guidebook for what to wear to one’s next medieval-inspired outing . . .“
 

Times Literary Supplement

The illustrations are of a brilliant precision with lovely reproduced colours and the text is as illuminating as you can expect from such an expert as Margaret Scott.

The Journal of Dress History

“Recommended.”—Choice

 


“A sumptuously illustrated compact volume which uses full colour images and the accented gold of illuminated manuscripts to full advantage. . . . [This book] tantalises the reader through the well written text and accompanying illustrations.”—European Review of History
 

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