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Question: Does anybody know where I can find some literature on 12th century german costumes for the SCA!?
I can't seem to find anything anywhere regarding the dress of males in 12th century Germany!. I am trying to develop my persona and am having a hard time finding info so that i can get some garb!. Any help would be appreciated!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
My own area of expertise is in the Anglo-Norman 12th century, which has various detail differences from French and German culture at that time!.

I have come across the manuscript known as "Hortus Deliciarum", which was produced in Alsace at this time and includes a wealth of costume detail!.

There is also a German late-12th century re-enactment group (I!.G!.Wolf, e!.V!.) who have researched the topic in some depth!.

See hortus deliciarum at
http://www2!.iath!.virginia!.edu/anderson/g!.!.!.
and at
http://commons!.wikimedia!.org/wiki/Catego!.!.!.
(The "Wheel of Fate" in this second page gives good information on mid/upper class male costume)
and I G Wolf at:
http://www!.igwolf!.net/index_en!.html

In general terms, men wore a loose linen shirt with a round neck and long sleeves, reaching to about mid-thigh!. This would be of bleached (white) linen for middle and upper classes, natural brownish linen for peasants!. Very baggy braies (underpants) of the same material reached to just below the knees; woollen hose were worn on each leg and tied to the waistband of the braies!.

Over this would be worn a tunic, often of wool but sometimes of silk for the wealthy!. This was belted around the waist and could have a simple round neck or with an added short slit down the chest!. For the middle and upper classes, embroidered or tablet-woven bands of decoration would be applied at the hem, neck and cuffs - on German and French tunics, there was often an additional decorative band around the upper arm (never seen in Anglo-Norman sources)!.

A cloak was the final layer, fastened with a brooch either at the throat or on the right shoulder!.

Colours for the lowest levels of society would be drab browns, greys, greens and russets; rich folk would wear tunics and cloaks of brightly-dyed wool!.

Shoes were tan or black leather, slightly pointed "turnshoes" - no heel, stitched inside out and turned the right way to conceal all the stitches within!.Www@QuestionHome@Com