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Accessories

One or two well-chosen accessories will complete your outfit and make it look right. Some can be madę at home, but others are best bought from specialist suppliers.

Belts, purses and pouches, Figs 1, 2

A belt (or girdle - the terms are interchangeable) was part of alrnost every outfit. It was mainly functional, but could also be a feature of a style. It was not always visible - it was often worn round an inner layer of clothing, or the outer garment might be pouched over it. It is worth studying the historie illustrations of a particular period to see how the belt was worn and what it supported.

Working men normally wore a belt and used it for tucking in gloves or tools {Mens outer workinggarments, Fig I) and for hitching up the skirts of the cote. During the 14th century the belt was often worn fashionably at hip level. Noblemen might wear a 'knightly girdle' of metal plaques mounted on leather or canvas. Men's gowns were usually belted at the natural waist (Gowns, Fig 3).

Men often wore a visible pouch or purse at the front or side (Cotehardies, Fig 2), and possibly a knife.

1. Men's belts, purses and pouches

a.    Belts were generally 2 to 5 cm wide. They were madę with buckles and strap ends, and often worn knotted as shown.

b.    14th century pouches. Top Closed, with a tie. Bottom With a buckie, and a morę pronounced 'kidney' shape; shown open. The front is a separate piece of leather attached to the back and flap. The pouch had two loops to fit it on the belt, with a dagger sometimes stuck in the gap.

c.    Simple moneybag to be carried inside the pouch, stitched on the wrong side from a folded piece of leather.

d. 15th century purses with elaborate metal frames, as worn by merchants and gentlemen.

Top Round shape, used for most of the century. Bottom Rectangular shape on bar mount, from about 1460. For clarity, these two are shown without the drawstring closures or hinged lids seen on some examples.

The purse itself is a square velvet bag folded at the base, stitched up the sides and gathered onto the frame. Some examples have three tassels across the base.

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