10-14th c. Linen Kirtle

We are pleased to offer our medieval kirtle, a simple, elegant linen gown that pulls on without lacing. Medieval artwork of the 10th - 14th centuries often depicts simple, smooth gowns with tapered sleeves and full skirts. In the 12th and 13th century, this gown is often worn as a simple overdress by common women and wealthy ladies as well being used as an under gown with apron dresses, bliauts and pendant sleeved gowns. In the later 14th and 15th centuries the kirtle remains an overdress for commoners, while being depicted beneath the cotehardies, sideless surcoats, and houppelandes of the high born. Very often these images show undergowns of widely contrasting colors and in our quest to provide you with the means to create that wonderfully medieval look our kirtle is available in a rainbow of colors.

This versatility and long period of use makes our kirtle perfect for many different periods and portrayals. Wear it as an undergown with our popular Apron Dress, bliaut, scoop-sleeve dress, half-sleeve gown, or our houppelande, to look the part of a well-born lady, or on its own, perhaps with a hood, thin belt and linen chemise for the simpler fashions of the 13th century. Finally, whatever your period of choice, the kirtle is the perfect solution on hot, summer days, where you keep cool while still maintaining the proprieties of a lady!

The kirtle's neckline is shaped to peek out from the neckline of your gown so that it can be seen beneath the overdress. The sleeves are slightly fitted to avoid bunching when worn with an overdress and provide a slight flare at the wrist for that distinctly medieval flare. As with our plain, white linen underdress our kirtle is fitted to the bust and then flares outward, ending just above the floor so that it fits smoothly under your gown without interfering with your train. Our kirtle is made out of 100% linen, with no visible machine stitching.