Costume Ideas

Fabric: Original would be hemp, course linen or wool. Could use an old plain sheet in cotton (not coloured).

Length: For ladies – to just above the ankle; for men – to just above the knee.

Arms: Fairly loose fit. Cut to the wrist. Sleeves can be rolled up.

Neckline: The centre slit at the front is to allow room to get the garment over the head. This can be cut into a V-shape if desired. Don’t make it too low!

Making up: Stitch the shoulder seams, side seams and lower sleeve edges. Ladies could have a slit at the sides to allow ease of movement (not too high!). Garment can be tied at the waist with a belt, a piece of cloth or thin rope.

Men’s trousers/leggings

Suggestions: Ladies’ thick leggings (not brightly coloured); old-fashioned long johns; plain pyjama-style bottoms; light-weight light coloured trousers

Can be worn loose, or rolled up, or cross-gartered using tape or string thus:

Shoes: Some thought needed here. But avoid trainers etc. Sandals could do.

Headgear: Bare-headed for men or a hood which extends own to cover the shoulders, called a chaperon. Fabrics would be natural colour of if dyed would be ochre or other earthy colours.

Unless a young unmarried woman, ladies always covered their hair, often with a simple bonnet called a coif. Something similar could be crafted from a simple white square of fabric tied like a headscarf behind the head with all the end tucked in.

General points

• No bright colours. Fabrics would be natural colour of if dyed would be ochre or other earthy colours.
• No adornment like braid, ribbon or embroidery. The clothes were practical for working in. They were probably homemade.
• Avoid modern items like jeans and trainers, or jewellery.
• No zips, buttons, press studs etc.