What is a medieval tunic called?

The cotte (or cote) was a medieval outer garment, a long-sleeved shirt or tunic, generally tight-fitting and worn by men and women. In medieval texts, it was used to translate tunic or chiton. A tunic is a body garment, usually simple in style, that extends from the shoulders to a length between the hips and knees. The name derives from the Latin tunic, the basic garment worn by men and women in Ancient Rome, which in turn was based on previous Greek garments that covered the waist of the wearers.

The 13th century saw the change in clothing styles only in the wealthiest classes, while men's and women's fashion was very similar. The men wore a tunic, cotte with an overcoat or cyclas, a rectangular overcoat cut in one piece with a hole for the head. Cyclas were sleeveless, with the sides stitched together to form a long sleeveless tunic, or with sleeves and a hood that resembled an overcoat with cap sleeves known as a ganache or gardcorps. The men wore their hair in the “page” style, straight hair below the ear and slightly bent below the ear.

Medieval Britain explores castles, cities and medieval life in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Starting with medieval fashion that ended in the sixties, this section covers British fashion from the Normans to the end of the 15th century, through the Middle Ages and the Middle Ages. The tunic remained the basic garment of Byzantine Romans of both sexes throughout the medieval period, and people from the upper classes wore other garments on top and their tunics reached the ankles. The buckle or brooch was used in medieval times to fasten two loose ends of a belt or garment.

Part 1 — Medieval Fashion Part 2 — Tudor and Stuart Fashion Part 3 — Georgian Fashion Part 4 — Victorian fashion up to the 1960s. Even in many works of art from the late Middle Ages, you can see this style of hooking up a longer train so that it doesn't crawl across the ground.

Medieval clothing

in the 14th century already saw the rise of a recognizable fashion in clothing, while the use of buttons and laces allowed for easier dressing and undressing, as well as a more comfortable fit of clothing. Women's dress from the early Middle Ages was often called cote, although many modern people call it a tunic.

The medieval tunic was generally a simple style garment that reached from the shoulders to an area between the hip and the knee. The tunic continued to be the basic garment of Byzantine Romans of both sexes throughout medieval times.