Medieval Overdress, Surcoat Andra, red

Medieval Overdress / Sideless Surcoat Andra, brown

This loosely tailored, floor-length surcoat is made of thick cotton canvas, a sturdy, heavy fabric that makes the medieval dress particularly suitable for spring and autumn wear. The bottom hem, armholes and neckline are trimmed with a finely woven cotton rib. The armholes are very generously sized and extend to the hips. From the hips down, so-called gores (triangular pieces of fabric) inserted into the side seams give the skirt an adequate flare. This garment is an authentic reconstruction of an outer gown as worn by ordinary women in the 14th century.

The surcoat (or surcote), which was originally also worn by men, was quite popular with women from the 13th c. onward. As the name implies, it was designed to be worn over a cotte (or cote). It usually featured wedge-shaped panels of fabric inserted into the skirt piece to provide sufficient flare. A particular form of sleeveless overgown was the so-called sideless surcote which enjoyed great popularity with ladies of all classes. While sleeveless surcoats initially had regular cut armholes, these became larger and larger over time until they eventually reached down to the hips, showing the long-sleeved cotte or kirtle underneath. The Church did not approve at all of this new fashion, which explains why such oversized armholes are also referred to as gates of hell.

Historical illustrations of surcoats can be found in numerous manuscripts of this time period, for example in the 1348 Roman de la Rose manuscript or in the 1360 Speculum humanae salvationis (leaf 37).

Details:
- Available sizes: S/M, L/XL, XXL
- Colour: brown (also available: dark blue, red)
- Material: 100% cotton
- Length overall size M: approx. 150 cm
(measured from the highest shoulder point down to the bottom hem)
- Care instructions: Machine wash at 40°C, gentle cycle, do not tumble dry