Clothing

Clothing describes a wide range of subjects related to the growing and shearing of fibres, the making of cloth, fashion and regional dress. The amount and type of clothing worn relates to climate, social factors, race and gender; garments cover the body, footwear covers the feet, gloves cover the hands, while hats and headgear cover the head. Jewellery is not generally considered an item of clothing, but play an important role in overall presentation.

This page addresses primarily the subject of everyday wearables that serve as protection from the elements, harsh environments and in labour — those worn by ordinary persons and party adventurers. Descriptions below are not meant to present an accurate scholarly treatison every form of existing Earth customs during the 17th century, but rather to provide some detail for player characters that will ground them in an overview of common dress and habit for different parts of the game world. Specific fashion choices and unique dress items can be provided for players through the equipment list, should such be desired.

Fabrics & Design

Due to a given fabric's weight and properties of insulation, sub-arctic climates prefer a mix of fur and leather for warmth; temperate climates prefer woollens; warm temperate areas and sub-tropics tend towards linen and cotton; while tropical climates will tend towards much less clothing with open woven fibres such as hemp or ramie. Silk is more common in the Far East than anywhere else, though parts of Europe have by the 17th century acquired silk worms and transplanted mulberry trees.

In colder seasons, clothing tends to be layered and pressed tight to the figure, in order to form air pockets inside the clothes that are warmed by the body, serving as insulation. Loose-fitting clothes with less layers predominate in warmer months. However, in extremely hot climates, particularly in the desert where protection against the sun is desperately needed, an inner layer of muslin cotton is adopted so that the body's sweat will produce a continuouosly wet insulation layer between the body and the harsh dry temperature. This is less needed in wet tropical areas, where humidity is high and vegetation growth produces considerable shade; thus in wet tropics, virtual nakedness is practical.

European Dress

Common People

The male dresses in a short trouser around his bottom; this hangs to the knee and takes the place of a loincloth. The shirt is loose-fitting and pulled over the head, laced in the upper part. Woolen stocking pants, soft and thick, pull up to the waist; this includes a flap of fabric called a "codpiece" preserves modesty. Overtop the shirt, a doublet — essentially a jacket — is added, with laces that sew the jacket to the hose, holding up the latter. A robe fits across the shoulders and hangs to the knees; the front is worn open, so that the doublet's visible, with the robe tied at the waist. A workman would wear an apron. In rough weather or for general travel, a cloak, with or without a "mantle" (extra cloth over the shoulders) and a hood is worn over the rest. Low boots to the ankles, or high boots to the knees, and a durable hat completes the wardrobe.

The female begins with a chemise, a simple, linen sleeved-smock that hangs to her knees and is worn without undergarments – practical, as the woman must always squat when she goes. A frock is worn over the gown, and sometimes more than one for warmth; this is pulled on, over the head. A belt ties at the waist over the dress, giving the garments shape. Gathers, pleats or tocks are a waste of fabric for peasants. Over this, she wears a surcoat, a sleeveless over-tunic, which is open on the sides enabling the woman access to tools on her belt. An apron might be worn, or she might tie a large kerchief about her waist as something on which to wipe her hands. She wears long woollen stockings that come to the tops of her thighs; these are bound in place, so they wouldn't fall down, by garters of cloth strips, or woven beneath the knee. The stockings fit in short boots. She binds her hair with a wide headcloth, then fits a kerchief or cap overtop the cloth so that her hair isn't visible. This cap is pinned in place. Women, like men, don a cloak in poor weather or for travel.

Layers are reduced in lower latitudes, with wool cloth being replaced by linen or cotton. Long sleeves are replaced with shorter sleeves or sleeveless garments. The doublet is dispensed with, or worn without the shirt. The robe, with cowl, is kept for wet weather and the cloak is abandoned entirely, except for festivals. Workmen often wear an apron over no shirt at all. Women discard the chemise and the surcoat becomes less important. Her hair may be worn freely, tied back and allowed to breathe.

Adventurers

The male's shirt is made of a better fabric, likely linen. The doublet has slashed sleeves, showing bits of the shirt poking out. This allows greater movement and attractiveness; the doublet itself is made of felt, velvet or serge, and is usually lined on the inside. A wide, polished leather belt ties the robe together, with a second belt added over the shoulder for weapons, especially a quiver. This may be complimented by a third belt over the other shoulder. Cloaks tend to have a mantle, and will be replaced with capes in warmer climes. -high boots are greatly preferred over short, with thigh-high leather boots being common.

For the female, the chemise is also improved in quality and has voluminous sleeves. Instead of a simple frock, she wears a "kirtle," a lined-dress that laces to the chin, laces in the back to give shape and has slashed sleeves like the male's doublet. The kirtle is molded to the woman's body and gives superior freedom of movement; it is made of felt or damask and generally has wide neck. A torsolette laces above the mid-section so as not to infringe movement, securing the bosom tightly. Her head is free, with her hair braided or bound with a cord.

Both male and female will wear gloves, often gauntlets, and polished leather boots rather than rough hide. Knee-high boots are greatly preferred over short, with thigh-high leather boots being common. Clothes have to be especially durable, since they are often surmounted by armour and abraised with weapons. An "arming jacket," a loose robe that's worn overtop armour, is often fitted to rings at the shoulders and tied with a belt.

Greater flexibility in fabrics and designs are expected for different parts of Europe, due to the adventurers' greater wealth and exercising of tastes. Thus, the adoption of different, practical wear is supposed, such as a short jacket rather than a robe; a wide-brimmed hat designed to keep off the rain instead of a cloak, especially during the summer; or pantaloons and breeches instead of stockings, especially for backcountry wooded exploration. Lighter clothes may be worn where the adventurer expects to spend long days in hauberk and chausses.