Amazing Middle Ages: Task 17

👗🛡️ Mini Project: “Dress Me Like It’s 1399!”

🏰 Project Goal:

Learn about medieval clothing across different social classes, then create your own Medieval Makeover Profile to show what you'd wear if you lived in the Middle Ages!

📚 Step 1: Mini Research

Find out what people wore in medieval times. 

• What did peasants wear? (Hint: It’s not fancy, and probably smelled like sheep.)

• What did nobles or lords/ladies wear? (Bonus: learn what “fur-lined” really meant.)

• What did knights wear under all that armor? (Spoiler: chainmail isn’t comfy pajamas.)

• What did kids wear? (Did they have medieval Crocs?)

Fill in this table as you go:

🎨 Step 2: Design a Medieval Makeover

Now imagine YOU lived in medieval times. Draw or create your own medieval outfit based on one of these roles:

• Peasant on laundry day

• Noble going to a royal feast

• Knight preparing for a tournament

• Apprentice blacksmith at the market

• Traveling jester (yes, with bells on your hat)

Use humor! Label silly details like:

• “Tunic of 100% itchy wool”

• “Feast-day shoes (worn once a year!)”

• “Hat that says ‘I have money’”

You can use:

• Paper and markers

• Google Slides

• Canva

• Or dress a potato as a medieval character (yes, really!)

🧵 Key Concepts to Learn About Medieval Clothing

👥 1. Social Class = Style

Different classes wore different things, and clothing showed your rank like a medieval name tag.

• Peasants:

  • Simple tunics, wool or linen, brown or dull colors

  • Aprons, rough shoes, and maybe a belt (no pockets!)

  • Clothes were for work, not fashion

  • Same outfit = every day, even holidays

• Nobles/Lords/Ladies:

  • Fine fabrics: silk, velvet, and fur trims

  • Bright, rich colors (like deep red or blue) were status symbols

  • Layered clothing: underdress + overdress + cloaks

  • Jewelry, hats with veils or feathers (hello, drama)

• Knights:

  • Padded shirt (called a gambeson) under armor

  • Chainmail or full plate armor on top

  • Coat of arms on a surcoat or shield

  • Helmet with a visor (also sweat and no bathroom breaks...)

• Children:

  • Dressed like mini adults

  • Peasant kids wore tunics

  • Noble kids wore simplified versions of adult outfits

🎨 2. Colors and Materials

• Natural dyes made most colors dull unless you were rich

• Bright colors = expensive = “look at me, I’m loaded”

• Fabrics: wool (everywhere), linen (undergarments), silk (only rich folks)

👒 3. Accessories & Details

• Belts with pouches (no one had pockets!)

• Hats or hoods for every class

• Shoes were leather, often pointy-toed for nobles

• Cloaks for warmth (especially in castles without heat)

🧼 4. Cleanliness & Reality Check

• Clothes were reused a lot

• Bathing was rare, and laundry was even rarer

• Rich people changed more often, but still no deodorant

• Underwear = long shirts (called shifts or chemises)