Clothing and Accessories for Medieval Enthusiasts
Medieval Clothing Stores
We provide collectors, re-enactors and LARP (Live Action Role Playing) groups with high quality medieval weapons, armor, clothing and accessories. We specialize in medieval and Renaissance swords, chainmail, helms, shields and more.
Dealers in second-hand garments were known as pelhieres. The statutes regulating their labour yield few details, but they did retail second-hand pelhas (rags) and clothes.
Clothes
In the Middle Ages, clothes could say a lot about the wearer – much like an evening dress or doctor’s coat can today. Different colors, styles and patterns were often used to indicate social status, profession and even geographic origin.
Clothes in the medieval world were usually made of linen, hemp or wool and in many cases silk as well. It is important to remember that the Middle Ages covered a broad span of time, and fashion differed significantly between eras, regions and cultures.
It is also important to remember that gender equality did not exist in the Middle Ages. Although it is OK to portray a blushing maiden or a boy of fourteen wearing a gown, it is not appropriate to dress as a knight (a professional and very specialized warrior) in men’s clothing, and vice versa.
Shoes
Whether you’re an avid gamer looking for LARP gear, or simply want to dress up for Halloween or a medieval festival, you’ll find what you need here. These stores sell everything from authentic renaissance costumes to medieval weapons and armor.
For the rich, shoes became a fashion statement in their own right, with long points favored as a sign of wealth and aristocratic status. These were usually stuffed with moss, hair, straw or other materials to keep their shape.
For poor people, turn-shoes or tied shoes were the norm. Those in northern or mountainous areas wore more rugged footwear, often made from one piece of leather, which was gathered to create the shape and then tied together underneath the knees. This type of shoe could be slid on and off easily, but had a stiff sole. It also offered little protection from weather conditions.
Armour
Armour Venue sells suits of armor that are complete and can be worn for reenactments, costume events and other suitable occasions. The suits are comprised of individual lames (metal strips) and plates meticulously curved to fit the contours of the wearer’s body. This design means that they operate and feel like real metal armor, but without the weight.
Medieval armour was made by professional armorers, sword and axe makers and gunsmiths who operated shops in every large town. It is therefore highly unlikely that the myth that “it took years to make a single mail shirt” was ever true (though we cannot deny that making metal armor was extremely time consuming work).
In order to wear their steel armor effectively, knights and other medieval nobles needed to have proper leggings and boots that were custom fitted to their bodies. These items also helped to distribute the weight of their armor and to prevent rubbing and chafing caused by the tight fitting of plate armor.
Accessories
In the Middle Ages, clothing was an important element of a costume. The type of garment a person wore told something about their social status, as well as how they lived their lives. The poor wore fewer layers of clothing, while the wealthy wore fine fabrics like silk and wool.
The High Middle Ages (the 11th to 13th centuries) saw a booming trade with Eastern countries, bringing silk and muslin into Europe. This period saw dresses gaining long trains, and the cut of the dress changed to more open forms.
Medieval and Renaissance Costumes are popular for fairs, plays, costumes and for weddings. A correct choice of accessories is crucial to a costume, especially when it comes to the type of period and activity you’re looking to portray. Costumes for pirates, wenches and knights come alive when the correct clothes are chosen. Then all that’s left to do is put on the final touches and enjoy your character!
…