Thursday, December 19, 2013

What's on your head?

It's funny how I can read so much about 14th century clothing and yet still encounter problems while attempting to dress myself.  Here's the situation:

This Saturday night, the Medieval Women's Choir will be performing music written in the middle ages in cloisters in Germany, France, and Spain. It's going to be in a cathedral, it's going to be gorgeous, and I thought it would be fun to imagine myself a 14th century pilgrim stopping by on a cold winter night to rest my feet and enjoy the music.  I rather hope there is a place I can sit on the floor, but that's probably romanticizing things a bit much.

It's going to be about 45 Fahrenheit/ 7 Celsius. I have a pale brown wool dress with short sleeves that will probably be warm enough for indoors.


I have a dark brown tunic I could wear as an overdress. Do you suppose chilly ladies ever "borrowed" a tunic from their hubby when it got cold? It comes down past my knee and the colors are quite nice together. 


But the part I'm struggling most with is how to cover my head. In the summertime, my cap and straw hat or wimple and veil are perfect, but what do I wear in the cold? I have a medium brown woolen hood (What? I like brown!) but what do I wear under it? I'll want to push it back while I'm indoors, and I know my head should not be bare, especially in a church. Birgitta cap under the hood? Leave the hood up? Wear the wimple and veil under the hood? That would be awfully bulky. Perhaps there is another option I don't even know about? HELP!


2 comments:

  1. I would say one always wore the veil and vimple, even under the hood. Just a cap would indicate an informal setting like in ones own home with only family present. You could make a hat. Seen this: http://www.neulakko.net/?p=1679 ? It sounds like a lovely setting!

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  2. I love reading the Neulakko page; her pictures are always so beautiful and she's so sensible. Sorting out proper winter headgear has been a challenge. Everyone seems to be wearing hoods, which is great, but one can't see what (if anything) is worn underneath the hood. Men have it easy! On the plus side, I doubt anyone at the concert will have a discerning eye for 14th century reenactment fashion, so if I go astray, no one will challenge me on it. =)

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