15th-Century Costumes for Kids

Images of 15th-century personalities and society can provide clues for costumes.

Costumes for children from the 15th century can depict regional dress, international exploration and developing occupations. Paintings, etchings and drawings of the 1400s provide valuable resources for fashion history. This visual documentation shows the kinds of dress worn by different sectors or classes of society. With some research and imagination, children's costumes can be created from supplies such as lengths of fabric, tights and costume jewelry.

Occupations

Many children can dress to portray a similar occupation from different parts of the world to show an international view. For example, one child can portray a farmer from 15th-century South America, another from Asia and a third from Africa. Costumes could represent different occupations in the same industry or revolving around a new invention. For example, to celebrate Johannes Gutenberg's wooden printing press invented in 1440, children can portray Gutenberg, church officials and readers. The 15th-century theme can also include what different members of one family wore.

Leaders

Kings, queens, chieftains and other leaders from around the world can inspire costumes. For a royal banquet scene, costumes can depict the royal family, royal court, international guests, entertainers and servants. Draped fabrics, tights, costume jewelry, wigs and headgear can give an illusion of grandeur. To represent battles, children can hold colorful banners with emblems to show their loyalty. Costumes can even include castles, horses, heraldry and coats of arms.

Explorers and Traders

Children can portray explorers and other adventurers of the 1400s. For example, portraits of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) can give clues to men's attire of those days. Other costumes with the exploration theme can include the royal sponsors, such as Spain's King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella, plus the ship's crew. Exploration themes can include costumes depicting merchants of the spice trade.

Art-Inspired

Painted portraits from the 15th century can give valuable clues about regional styles of dress. For example, some Flemish women wore the "Burgundian" style of gown that included a fitted high waist. Accessories such as large, linen headdresses can give a finished look. Paintings of markets and other businesses can depict desired products such as wool and silk for fine robes worn by a certain class or sector of society. Images of craftsmen's associations or guilds can also inspire costumes and the tools or equipment associated with the trades.

References

• The Great Idea Finder: Printing Press
• The History of Visual Communication: Incunabula
• 15th Century Female Flemish Dress: A Portfolio of Images
• The Costumer's Manifesto: 15th Century Southern Europe (1400 to 1500ce)
• Enchanted Learning: Christopher Columbus: Explorer

Resources

• Multinomah County Library: Explorers A to Z