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The Cotehardie & Houppelande Homepage: |
| The Houppelande |
A voluminous outer garment worn from about 1360-5 till the later fifteenth century but especially fashionable until 1445-50. The houppelande derived from Flemish styles and was worn by both sexes. Generally fitting on the shoulders it was very full and usually belted. In the fourteenth century it had a very high neckline, up to the cars; after this necklines followed current tunic fashion. The houppelande could be any length between mid-calf and sweeping the ground. It could be buttoned all the way up the centre front or, more commonly, was not open but the skirt was slit to knee level at the sides. A, baldric was often slung round the body (see Baldric). The houppelande was always ample, draped in many folds, it was made from rich fabrics with contrasting linings, often fur. Sleeves were always wide, edges frequently daggdd.
The houpelande was one of many great marvels to come out of the era of the black death
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© Ragnar Torfason
2005 January 28 |