How to Make Medieval Dresses for Peasants

Medieval clothing is the attire worn typically by nobility and peasants in the11th to 16th centuries. To construct clothes for peasants, use items that are more worn with duller colors than that worn by the nobility. Avoid embellishment, such as brooches, jewels or lace. Peasant dresses can be simply and inexpensively created by utilizing old pieces of clothing and thrift store purchases and building up the articles of clothing with extra fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Dress or long skirt
• Blouse
• Apron
• Tulle or tutu (optional)
• Shawl or large piece of fabric
• Fabric for waist
• Shoes
• Stockings

Instructions

1. Choose either a long, ankle-length dress or skirt. If using a skirt, pair it with a loose and flowing long sleeved blouse. If the dress does not have long sleeves, wear a blouse over it.

2. Tie an apron or shawl around the waist to add some layers to the dress. If desired, wear a puffy skirt underneath or a ballet tutu or sew some pieces of tulle underneath the skirt to give it some volume.

3. Drape a shawl or a large piece of fabric over the shoulders of the wearer or over her head as a cloak. Tie a piece of cloth around the middle of the dress to cinch the waist of the dress.

4. Wear stockings and simple closed-toe shoes. Choose a flat-heeled shoe.

References

• Pearsons Renaissance Shoppe
• Kostym: Obrazky