Difference between revisions of "Braies"

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===Why wear undergarments?===
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{{garb-stub}}
Why wear undergarments? 1. To keep your outer garments protected from body oils and
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{{cleanup
dirt. 2. To keep your skin protected from the rough fabric of your outer clothing.
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|reason=Some information is copied directly from an external site
We know that the undergarments were changed daily at least for some of the nobility,1
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|date=February 2024
and it is also known that they weren't worn to sleep in. In art you generally see naked
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}}
people in bed. And besides, they would be really uncomfortable to sleep on!
 
  
===What was worn?===  
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[[Image:Braies.jpg.jpeg|thumb|Example of English [[garb]] 13th century. The men wear [[tunics]] called [[cottes]] that were split in the front so that they could be tucked in to their [[belts]] for ease of movement.  They also wear [[trewes]] and [[braies]]. This is typical working man's attire.]]
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[[Braies]] are a type of [[trousers|trouser]] that hung to the knees or mid-calf, similar to what we today call shorts. By the later middle ages, they were worn exclusively as undergarments, worn under [[hose]] or other forms of trousers.
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===In history===  
 
The 12th and 13th c. men's underwear, known as Braies or Breeches were a long  
 
The 12th and 13th c. men's underwear, known as Braies or Breeches were a long  
 
legged full garment, shaped somewhat like pantaloons with a long flap at the top that is  
 
legged full garment, shaped somewhat like pantaloons with a long flap at the top that is  
rolled down called the coulisse 2. I have found no good pictures of the 12th C. Braies, but
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rolled down called the coulisse 14th C. Braies seam to  
I am basing my design on the 13th. C. versions, assuming that the design did not change
 
much as the outer garments have not changed that much either. 14th C. Braies seam to  
 
 
have straight legs and less fabric, although they still roll down at the hips. The length also  
 
have straight legs and less fabric, although they still roll down at the hips. The length also  
 
shortens later in period.  
 
shortens later in period.  
  
The other under-garment is the [[shirt]]. The shirt seems to appear in art only few times
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Braies are made of white [[linen]], or [[wool]] for lower classes. Over the braies would
in the 12th and 13th C. There are only two shirts that are shown in the Old Testament
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be [[Leg Armor#Chausses|chausses]], tied onto the braies at the hips.
Miniatures, and about 10 figures wearing braies and no shirt. (this does not mean they
 
weren't wearing undertunics - there is pictorial evidence of this, but they would be taken
 
off with the Super [[tunic]] presumably.  There are mentions of the Shirt in literature and art,  
 
although more often in the 14th and 15th C. The shirt appears to have slits at the sleeve,
 
and short sleeves. The slits help the sleeves fit better under the tight fitting sleeves,
 
allowing for better movement at the elbow.  
 
  
Braies are made of white [[linen]], or woolens for lower classes. The medieval shirt was
 
made of wool, linen, hemp and, for the wealthy, occasionally silk 3 Over the Braies would
 
be [[Chausses]] (separate leggings footed or not, tied onto the braies at the hips. On the head
 
goes a [[coif]], made in 2 pieces and tied under the chin.
 
===How do Braies affect the other clothing? ===
 
Note that the fit of the 13th c tunic as worn with the braies is somewhat specific. The
 
tunic must be very tight fitting in the upper arm and upper chest, and flare to a very full
 
skirt starting mid-chest. If the tunic is baggy in arm or chest, it will look fine worn with
 
modern underclothes. However, when worn with the appropriate braies, the wearer looks
 
heavy. Since the artistic style and image of beauty of the 12th and 13th C. in art is to have
 
an elongated torso and look tall and thin, you see the problem. You would think the rolled
 
down coulisse riding low under the belly would make the wearer look fat at all times, but
 
with the proper fitting tunic, belted with a thin belt right below the coulisse, it actually
 
makes the torso appear thinner and elongated.  I believe that this is one reason for the
 
coulisse (to shape the torso- much as women's undergarments do today…) Another
 
reason for the coulisse is that the belt holding the braies up is what the chausses and the
 
leg of the braies is tied to. When you put the pressure of the strings holding on your leg
 
coverings at 2 points of a girdle, it really digs into the hips and hurts. But with the girdle
 
inside the coulisse, it becomes padded and thus is much more comfortable to wear.
 
 
===Links===
 
===Links===
*[http://camelot-treasures.com/aenor/braies.pdf History and make]  
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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161204092644/https://camelot-treasures.com/aenor/braies.pdf Making period braies]
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obJu8pvbASU Swordplay in Medieval Underpants]
  
[[Category:Amtgard Things]][[Category:Garb]][[Category:How To]]
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[[Category:Garb]]
[[Category:European Garb]]
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[[Category:European Garb]] [[Category:Garb Bottoms]]
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[[Category:Garb Undergarments]]

Latest revision as of 03:37, 10 February 2024

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Example of English garb 13th century. The men wear tunics called cottes that were split in the front so that they could be tucked in to their belts for ease of movement. They also wear trewes and braies. This is typical working man's attire.

Braies are a type of trouser that hung to the knees or mid-calf, similar to what we today call shorts. By the later middle ages, they were worn exclusively as undergarments, worn under hose or other forms of trousers.

In history

The 12th and 13th c. men's underwear, known as Braies or Breeches were a long legged full garment, shaped somewhat like pantaloons with a long flap at the top that is rolled down called the coulisse 14th C. Braies seam to have straight legs and less fabric, although they still roll down at the hips. The length also shortens later in period.

Braies are made of white linen, or wool for lower classes. Over the braies would be chausses, tied onto the braies at the hips.

Links