Velvet cotehardie Christina, green

Product description

The dress is based on originals from around the 13th–15th century. Dresses from this period are depicted in large numbers in medieval illuminated manuscripts such as the Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. This type of dress is also known as a cotehardie. Typical of the cotehardie is that it increasingly reveals the female form, in contrast to the rather shapeless dresses of the preceding centuries. The cotehardie emphasises the waist and bust by means of the laces and buttons on the front, which permitted ladies to wear their dresses more closely fitted. The neckline was also cut deeper and deeper. The cotehardie was often combined with a slip dress, a belt, and a bonnet.

This cotehardie is crafted from velveteen and has a highly luxurious appearance, well-suited to re-enactment and LARP of noble and wealthy historical figures and characters. Velvet emerged in Europe during the 14th century and was woven principally in Italy. For the medieval Burgundians, velvet garments symbolised prosperity and prestige and were highly fashionable.