Clothing
Only three kinds of fabrics are produced in Europe in any sort of quantity — linen, wool, and hemp. Silk and cotton are available, but must be imported from far away. Even people who have heard of these fabrics have no idea of their origin; one medieval book describes cotton as coming from a tree that grows lambs instead of fruit. Linen is used for undergarments, wool for outer garments. The poor often substitute hemp for linen, since linen is costly. Fur is also used for warmth, but, in Christian areas, is generally worn only as an undergarment.
The basic item of outer clothing is the tunic, worn short for most men. Women wear a dress that is essentially an ankle-length tunic. Clergy wear a similar garment, though it is called a cassock instead of a dress. On the legs, people wear hose — a tube of cloth, tied on with leather strips (garters). For protection from the weather, a cloak called a mantle may be worn; this may be long or short, hooded or not.
Undergarments consist of a chemise and breeches. The chemise is much like a modern nightshirt. The wealthy will have long, bleached, linen ones; the poor short, rough, hempen ones. Breeches are not unlike a cloth diaper in design (though not in function, of course). Undergarments are typically the only garments changed regularly. Many people own only one set of outer garments — not just the very poor. Body odor is not as much of a problem as a modern person would think — the pervasive wood smoke in the poorly ventilated buildings of the time acts as a natural deodorizer for clothing.
Shoes are simple, and generally made of soft leather. Peasants may have to settle for cloth shoes, or even go barefoot in warmer months (this is not possible in the filthy towns). Hard-soled shoes are unknown. High, leather boots are available — particularly in cold, pagan areas — but are also soft-soled.
A variety of head coverings are worn. Perhaps the most common are the close-fitting cloth cap, and the broad-brimmed straw hat worn by peasants to offer protection from the sun.
Of course, those who can afford to do so decorate their clothes. Dying is widely practiced. The most common embellishment on women’s clothing is embroidery.
Clothing is slightly different in pagan areas. Pagans possess actual trousers — a must in the colder climates of their homes. Trousers are made of wool, or, if more costly, of leather. Pagans wear more fur than Christians — again, due to the necessity of the climate. Dead pagans are buried fully dressed (Christians are generally buried in only their undergarments.).