14th Century Lightweight Shirt

Throughout the Middle Ages clothes were worn in layers, with a light linen tunic forming the foundation over which additional linen or wool garments were worn. The exact nature of these earliest garments is unknown, but by the 13th century, they had evolved into a simple, relatively short, white linen shirt. The shirt went through subtle, but important changes in the century that followed, as it evolved to conform to the new, closer-fitting outer garments of men’s fashion. Worn with chausses and braies, this ubiquitous shirt forms the foundational dress of medieval man, from duke to cotter.

When worn under the tunic and supertunic of the period, this shirt would have all but disappeared from view, except perhaps at the collar. Fortunately, the shirt of this time well represented in surviving artwork. This version of our shirt is lighter weight and more closely tailored than our 14th Century Heavyweight Shirt and has a simple round neckline finished with self-bias edge. Its made of 100% mid-weight 5.5 oz linen and is ideal for use as an under-layer for civilian and arming clothes. For a more generously cut, heavy weight version of the medieval shirt see our 14th Century Heavyweight Shirt.

Front and Back views of our Lightweight 14th century Shirt worn with 14th century Braies