People’s clothing told a lot about who they were. One could see if someone was a rich merchant, a craftsman or a peasant visiting town. There was a big difference between the Chancellor and a servant. There was also a big difference between workday clothes and Sunday best.
A man normally wore a knee length kirtle, or frock, and hose. Around his head and neck he wore a long, pointed hood. If it was cold, he would wrap himself in a warm cloak. Everything was made of wool. Women wore a long chemise made of coarse linen, and on top of it, a woollen dress, a surcoat, with or without sleeves. Children wore simple linen or woollen frocks, and on their heads, bonnets or caps with gussets.
Rich people might wear clothes made of velvet or silk, often beautifully coloured. Fur clothes made from squirrel or ermine were also worn by the rich. Everyday clothes were home-made, and of linen and wool from the country-side. Finer fabrics were imported from Flanders (present-day Netherlands). The bolts of cloth were unloaded in town and inspected in the cloth house, where cloth of all colours and qualities was stored. The head cloth-cutter made the fabrics smooth and shiny. The tailors made exclusive clothes for the noblemen and the citizens. The furriers made clothes from skins and furs. Many craftsmen in town made a living from making beautiful, expensive clothes.
Belts and leather bags were worn with the clothes. The merchants and their wives had fine jewellery and clasps. When the peasants came to town, they probably wanted to buy foreign fabrics for their clothes to make a change from their usual home made cloth.
Read more about clothes under "Country Life. Workdays and holidays".