Medieval Romance Giveaway--Part Two

Welcome to Part Two of Debbie Lynne Costello's guest appearance here at Woman of Faith, and to her giveaway. To enter the drawing for a free copy of SWORD OF FORGIVENESS, simply leave a comment after the post. Winners will be drawn next week and the announcement given on Friday, May 1st. (If you also comment on Part One of this drawing, you'll have more than one entry. Both comments will count.)
Please Note: Winners must reside within the 48 continental states. One winner will receive a kindle  ebook and one a paperback. Winners are chosen using random.org. 

Welcome, Debbie Lynne Costello. I'm grateful for your generosity to my readers!

Linore, thank you for having me on your blog! I’m excited to chat with your followers.

And, readers, if you join my newsletter you'll  know when I do other giveaways. To be notified, send me an email at DebbieLynneCostello (at) hotmail (dot) com. 

A Peek at Fourteenth Century Fashion 

by Debbie Lynne Costello

Clothing styles have always changed, even back in medieval times. While changes were slower than today, styles did come and go.  And fashion within the same style varied from country to country. My story is set in the late 1300’s (fourteenth century) but an interesting fact is that as early as the 15^th century sumptuary laws* began to regulate the cost of clothing. This included the length of items such as shoes, hoods, and trains. 

*Note: According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, sumptuary law is "any law designed to restrict excessive personal expenditures in the interest of preventing extravagance and luxury."

The hennin,  which is a steeple headdress, (see illustration, right) became popular during the 14^th century. These cone-shaped headdresses with a flowing veil became so extravagant in heights that they too, were regulated. The higher the hennin, the higher the wearer's status in society.

 

Caul headdresses were also worn. The woman’s hair would be plaited (sometimes adding bulk to the hair) and then covered with fabric, which  would be shaped on each side of the head. (Think about the evil stepmother’s hat in the 1965 version of Cinderella.) The cauls were often jeweled. 

Many types of hats were popular during this time period from the tall hennin to the plain rectangle shaped headrail.

 Other 14th Century Fashion Tidbits

Women plucked the hair on the back of their necks, along with their hairlines, and thinned their eyebrows. Some wore makeup while others sat for hours in the sun trying to get those lovely highlights. 

Both men and women wore clothing made from several different pieces of fabric, dividing them into halves or quarters. Each section was made out of a contrasting color. This popular style also extended into the stockings and shoes as well.

Women wore a cotehardie beneath their darker colored surcoat. The cote-hardie was a fitted dress with long sleeves. The surcoat was a sleeveless over- dress. In the 12^th century the surcoat sides were opened to reveal the fitted undergarment. The church objected, however,  to the new style stating it was too revealing. 

Along with the jeweled cauls the woman would wear a jeweled girdle (belt like) at her hips. 

Her shoes were made of a soft leather or fabric and had elongated toes. They were low cut and buttoned or tied at the ankle. The shoes were often embellished with embroidery and gems.

Hope you enjoyed that peek! Would you like to have been alive when these styles were in fashion? Imagine living without your jeans and flip-flops! Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for my book. 

As a reminder, here's the book being given away:

 Read more about this medieval romance, Sword of Forgiveness, on Amazon. 

Debbie Lynne Costello has enjoyed writing stories since she was about eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina. She has worked in many capacities in her church and is currently the Children's Director. Debbie Lynne has shown and raised Shetland Sheepdogs for eighteen years and still enjoys litters now and then. In her spare time, Debbie Lynne enjoys camping and riding  Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses with her husband.